5Q2 Thoughts on Flax Hujbandry. ■ Nor 



done, in every refpet^, to the article, in all its ftages, from the 

 growing field to the heckle ; and by his conftant attention, and 

 fuperior knowledge in the proper mode of managing it ; by 

 Ikilful and attentive management, and completely checking all 

 depredation, it may be prefumed, that the crop will be at Icalt 

 one third more productive, and perhaps of a better quality, than 

 commonly happens. 



Was a flax hufbandry eftabliflied upon thcfe principles, I have 

 no doubt but that, in a few years, as much of the article might 

 be raifed in Scotland as would fnpply the whole of our linen 

 manufacture, and, of coutfe, an immenfe fum retained at home, 

 that is now annually fent abroad for purchafing what the trade 

 requires. To farmers, it would become a profitable concern, 

 feeing that a good rent could be paid, while the trouble would 

 be confined merely to ploughing and harrowing the ground, 

 as is done for a corn crop. Their attention would not be taken 

 from the ordinary line of bufinefs, or engroffed by the multifarious 

 procefles ncceflary before flax can be brought to perfection. It is 

 by this divifion of labour, that the trade can be made to fiourifli \ 

 and I would as foon expert that a farmer would thrive, who 

 grinded his wheat into flour, and baked that flour into bread, as 

 that the grower of flax could fucceed, when he attempts to exe- 

 cute all the after operations. 



If the above is deemed worthy of a place, and can have any 

 tendency to promote a more general growth of flax, I will confi- 

 der myfelf amply rewarded for fuggeiting it. 



I earneftly wifli every fuccefs to your Magazine, or, which is 

 the fame thing, to the improvement of the country. I remain, 

 &c. J- M 



TO THE CONDUCTOR OF THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



Ohfervations on the Difeafe of Sheep, for which hioculation has been 



praclifed on the Continent, ^c. 

 Sir, 



In the review of Lawrence on Horfes, No. XV. p. 33i.> 

 your printer has fallen into a whimfical blunder, having fubititut- 

 t6.faccharine for focotrine aloes ; and thereby converted the bitter- 

 eft article of the Materia Medica into the fweeteft. 



Your correfpondent R. K., No. XV. p. 297., appears to have 

 miftaken the difeafe for which inoculation of fheep has been prac- 

 tifed on the Continent. About ten years ago, at the defire of Sir 

 John Sinclair, I tranflated from the French, a treatife on the 

 Management of Sheep in the South of France, and the difeafes 



to 



