PROJECTED REVIVAL OF THE FLAX INDUSTRY 597 



of reducing the profit attending wheat growing in other 

 countries and both these circumstances operate to make 

 the chance of successfully reviving the flax industry in our 

 country more favourable. 



» The possibility of successfully reviving the industry has 

 been seriously considered by the Development Commissioners ; 

 indeed, the revival of both flax and hemp industries was 

 specifically mentioned in the Act of Parliament which brought 

 that advisory body into existence. During the past two 

 years much first-hand information has been gathered by 

 studying the subject of flax cultivation and fibre separation 

 in the chief flax-growing countries of Europe, namely Russia, 

 Holland, Belgium, France, Ireland, Austria-Hungary and 

 Germany and the information has been presented in the form 

 of a Report. Moreover, certain field experiments were con- 

 ducted last year in Bedfordshire, where, besides raising the 

 crop, retting experiments were made in tanks especially 

 constructed for the purpose. 



The result of the inquiry made on behalf of the Develop- 

 ment Commissioners leaves no room for doubt that the 

 climate of this country is well suited to flax. The crop 

 makes no special demand for a particular class of soil, so 

 long as the land is properly prepared and suitably manured. 

 Light loam, however, may be said to be most favourable and 

 chalk least favourable, to a fibre crop. Large areas of suitable 

 land are to be found in Yorkshire and Somersetshire, as well 

 as in the midland and eastern counties. Flax can be grown 

 successfully as a fibre crop in this country and at the same 

 time the seed which it bears can be profitably saved ; indeed, 

 this is the practice which was formerly adopted. The flax crop 

 is somewhat more troublesome than the usual farm crops but 

 no difficulty in its cultivation need be apprehended provided 

 practical information be placed at the disposal of farmers. 

 This could be done easily and there is every reason to believe 

 that good crops of flax would again be raised here if attention 

 were given to the work. 



The somewhat complicated and troublesome operation of 

 separating the fibre is not considered to fall properly within 

 the province of the agriculturist. The labour at his disposal 

 is unskilled for the most part and he is able to give only 

 divided attention to the preparation of the fibre, whereas skilful 



