SECRETARY'S REPORT. ' 65 



producer, by bringing a market for his crop up to liis very 

 door. 



The government of Great Britain has long encouraged the 

 growth of flax, and is now paying an annual bounty of about 

 $5,000 for the encouragement of the growth of this article. But 

 that country cannot produce enough to supply the demand of 

 her own people. In 1851 she imported about 124,784 tons of 

 dressed fibre. She also imports flax seed and linseed cake 

 very largely. Only about one-fourth part of the quantity of 

 •these products now used by her is produced in the kingdom. 

 These facts are stated to show the great foreign demand for 

 this article of produce, and must convince the candid inquirer 

 that every grower will find a ready market for all he can raise. 



Several establishments in this State are already engaged in 

 the manufacture of linen goods of various kinds, at Andover. 

 "Willimantic, Clinton, Webster, Fall River and other places. 

 Operations will soon be commenced in the vicinity of Springfield 

 also. These manufactories will, of course, increase the de- 

 mand for the raw material which they use. 



Flax does not require a very peculiar soil, nor is it an ex- 

 hausting crop. An alluvial soil, or what is commonly called a 

 light sandy loam, is thought to be best adapted to it. The 

 plant draws most of its nourishment from the air and from 

 water. It is only the seed that draws upon soil to any great 

 extent. The constituents, moreover, which the seed takes from 

 the earth are easily returned to it by feeding out the oil-cake 

 to cattle, and dressing the land with the stable manure. 



In the pultivation of this plant more danger is apprehended 

 from too great richness of soil than from its being too poor and 

 light. If the soil is very rich, the fibre is frequently too coarse, 

 and of an inferior quality. The custom wliich has prevailed in 

 this country of allotting to it the richest parts of the farm may 

 tave given rise to the objection sometimes made to American 

 flax, in England, that the fibre is too coarse for the best quality 

 of linen fabrics. 



In view of the many facts in regard to the cultivation of this 



plant which have recently been brought to our notice, I cannot 



but think that it would be well to try it on many lands which 



could be prepared for this crop at less expense than for others. 



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