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THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



Punjaub took very active measures for the promotion 

 and extension of flax culture ia India, having special 

 regard to the fibre. Even the present limited cultiva- 

 tion of flax, carried on solely for the sake of the seed 

 as an oil-producing staple, is considered remunerative 

 by the landowners and growers ; and the more impor- 

 tant produce, from its fibre, would necessarily very 

 considerably increase the profit to be derived from 

 greater attention to the culture, &c. 



Several tons ^f the best seed were ordered out from 

 England. Premiums were offered for the largest ex- 

 tent of land placed under cultivation with it: liberal 

 prices were offered for the produce. Several sets of 

 heckles, of the ordinary kind in use amongst the flax- 

 growers of Ireland, such as the natives might be taught 

 to use with little difficulty, and which would enable 

 them to prepare a fair merchantable article, were or- 

 dered ; and a dozen combs, used for stripping the seed, 

 with a few handbi-akcs, made on the most approved 

 plan as models, should the flax cultivation be greatly 

 extended. In the course of a year or two subsequently, 

 the land under flax in the Punjaub produced, we be- 

 lieve, about 5,000 tons ofseed and 15,000 tons offibre; 

 but we have not heard what was the quality or pecu- 

 niary result of the experiment on the fibre, or what was 

 the opinion entertained of the article exported. 



But growing flax is not growing rice, or oil seeds, or 



pulse, in the careless and mixed manner of the Indian 

 natives ; nor is the preparation of it to be left to inex- 

 perienced individuals. Something more than combs 

 and heckles will be required before an article will be 

 produced in sulficient quantity and quality to compete 

 with the home-grown material, or even to supply the 

 place of that from Europe and Egypt. Unless the 

 most improved methods of preparation are adopted — 

 and the cultivation will require a vast deal of care to 

 meet the desideratum — a superior fibre will not be pro- 

 duced to realize a sufficient price to pay all concerned. 

 The importance of the question of flax may be judged 

 of by a comparison of the progress of production, 

 manufacture, &c. In 1850 we imported 1,822,918 

 cwts. of flax, dressed and undressed. In 1857 our 

 foreign imports only reached 1,024,264 cwts. The 

 quantity of linen and yarn exported in 1850 was in 

 value i?4,845,030, and the quantity kept for home 

 consumption was valued at £9,700,000 ; together, 

 ^14,545,030. In 1857 the value of the linen and yarn 

 exported was upwards of £6,000,000 ; and if we as- 

 sume the proportion used at home at about £11,000,000, 

 we have a total of ^17,000,000. But there are the 

 other products of seed, oil, and oilcake to be added, 

 which bring up the total present annual value of our 

 commerce in flax to nearly £22,000,000 annually; 

 making this a very considerable interest. 



ON LABOURERS' COTTAGES. 



The slow and very gradual upward progress of the 

 social system renders it very probable, if not absolutely 

 certain, that much turn will yet elapse before the 

 amelioration of the labouring classes be placed on the 

 permanent security of deriving an adequate competency 

 from the awards of social distribution ; and until this 

 only true and legitimate ground be obtained, which can 

 only apply to a generation yet unborn, the existing race 

 can only be benefited by the humanity and kindness of 

 their employers, who are men of wealth, or who are 

 prompted by benevolence to extend the means of com- 

 fort to the labour which supplies every demand and 

 operates every enjoyment. The social system affords 

 but a scanty recompenee for the moil and toil of labour; 

 and when this irksome bondage is accompanied with an 

 uncomfortable accommodation, the burden of life ap- 

 proaches an almost insupportable condition. The 

 lowermost grade of society is placed far irom the ad- 

 vances of the improving world, and much time is spent 

 and a long misery is endured before the progress of 

 amelioration reaches the abodes of poverty and neg- 

 lect. A comfortable accommodation is fully equal in 

 necessity to the adequate supply of the necessaries of 

 life : the want of the former destroys the enjoyment 

 of the latter, and the external sensations are as acute 

 and affecting as the inward appetites and cravings of 

 nature. 



Till within the currency of the present century, and 

 in many places at this present time, the single cottage 



of a labourer is limited to one apartment, on the ground- 

 floor, in which the whole family is huddled as in a pin- 

 fold, where the decencies of life cannot be preserved. 

 There is no second-floor ; and the beds being placed on 

 the ground, the habitation is nothing better than the 

 stall of a stable, in which the animal eats and sleeps, 

 and performs every function. But this very shameful 

 arrangement has been gradually removed by introducing 

 the second-floor for the sleeping apartments, and also 

 some back premises for scullery accommodation. This 

 alteration has proceeded from manufacturing towns, 

 which have ever formed the germs of freedom and the 

 cradle of human improvements. Yet very much remains 

 to be done : in many districts of country no change has 

 yet happened ; the old buildings remain, and even form 

 patterns for new erections. Within not many years 

 past, the provision of better cottages and general 

 accommodation for the labourers, both in town and 

 country, has engaged very considerable attention ; and 

 various publications have been made, of designs for 

 dwellings, with estimates and general observations. Our 

 remarks will notice these designs in detail, and conclude 

 with our own ideas, which have been derived from a very 

 extensive practical acquaintance. 



The first notice alights upon a book of designs that 

 has been devised and published by Mr. Weaver, an 

 architect, of Somersetshire. These plans adopt the very 

 essential requisite that the sleeping apartments be placed 

 on a second-floor, and the elevations are very justly 



