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me to sow ninety -six acres in 1849, which proved to be a very fine crop in qua- 

 lity, but not a heavy yield. In 1850 I had one hundred and twenty acres, but 

 that season was very unfavorable owing to the drought in spring, and the crop 

 was inferior, both in quality and yield. In 1851 I had one hundred and eight 

 acres, not of such fine quality generally as in 1849, but more than double the 

 weight per acre, and a much better paying crop. 



The quality will vaiy here, as elsewhere, with the nature of the season ; but after 

 the experience I have had, I have no hesitation in saying, that both soil and 

 climate of Wisconsin are as well adapted to the growth of flax as any other 

 country I have been in, or am acquainted with. I resided twenty years in 

 Holland, Belgium, and Ireland, all extensive flax growing countries ; and have 

 besides, in the course of my business, had large quantities of Russian and Egyp- 

 tian flax through my hands, and I think I am qualified to speak with certainty 

 on this point. 



I do not think we have quite so large yield to the acre as in Ireland, owing to 

 the rapid growth not allowing the flax to coat so thickly ; but to counterbalance 

 that, the seed is a sure crop here, and a very uncertain one in the humid climate 

 there. Indeed it is only of late years that the " Royal Society for the promotion 

 and improvement of the growth of Flax" in Ireland has been successful in turning 

 the attention of farmers to saving the seed at all, and that mostly for feeding pur- 

 poses, little of it being fit for sowing. The farmers used to make a point of 

 having the flax put into the dams, with the seed on, the same day it was pulled. 

 I was the first to attempt to save seed in Ireland on a large scale, 252 acres, and 

 had very partial success. 



While I firmly believe that the Western States of America, say Wisconsin, 

 Illinois, and Iowa, can grow as much flax as might nearly supply the whole of 

 the European markets, I admit it must be done in a way to suit the circum- 

 stances of the country ; and I shall now make some remarks in reply to your 

 enquiry for general information on the subject of flax, to explain my meaning. 



In Ireland, every farmer has either a stream of water running through his lot, 

 or has one convenient, or a bog hole, for the purpose of rotting his flax — the 

 water-power too is inexhaustible, and spread over every township. A farmer, 

 therefore, grows flax as any other crop, and prepares it for the scutching mill, 

 which he finds close by him as we find grist mills; he pays so much per hundred 

 for dressing it, and can then take it to market when and where he chooses. In 

 the province of Ulster most faimers have, more or less, flax as a regular rotation 

 of crop. The culture is now being introduced into the South of Ireland, where 

 both soil and climate are superior to the North, and so far it has succeeded well. 

 I have seen the crop of Irish flax estimated as high as thirty-six thousand tons 

 per annum ; but having a good opportunity of knowing, I am very certain it 



