l8oo. from the PraEi'tce of Ireland. izj 



iiorth of Ireland ; which diforder not only lefTens the 

 ^quantity, but injures the quality of the flax, in every pro- 

 cefs of the manufacture. 



In this cafe, tliey are generally obliged to pull the flax 

 at the iirit appearance of the blight. If this is neglected 

 till a blotch is feen on the ftalk, the crop is fcarcely 

 worth manufacturing, as no art in bleaching can bring 

 the cloth made of it to a proper colour. 



N. B. — No chalk in Ireland, and very little fandy 

 foil. Such lands would probably be liable to this 

 imperfection. 



About two bufhels of feed to the Englifh acre is a pro- 

 per quantity, except for the purpofe of a very fine ma- 

 nufacture. For this purpofe, the flax is to be pulled in 

 a very green ftate ; and four bufliels to the Englifh acre 

 are in that cafe neceflary. A fure method of trying the 

 quality of the feed, is, by fowing fome in a hot-bed. The 

 moft approved feafon for fowing, is the firlt fine weather 

 after the middle of March. 



The beft mode of tillage is in beds about fix feet broad, 

 covering the feed about an inch and half deep, with what 

 earth may be fhovelled out of the furrows. 



Thefe furrows are ufeful in carrying off under-water, 

 and in giving air to the crop during the growth. But 

 the tops of the ridges fhould not be laid round, as that 

 would carry off the Summer rains too quickly. Before 

 the flax is live inches high, it fliould be csrefuily hand- 

 weeded ; and, if any part lodges, it fliould be turned 

 over, as is often neceflary with refpect to barley. And, 

 in general, during the grov/th of the crop, as much care 

 as poiTible fhould be taken, to preferve the plants in an 

 even ftate of ^growth, w^hich will be found of great ad- 

 vantage to the manufacturer in every future procefs. 



The produce may be eflimated, on an average, at about 

 feven pounds Sterling the Engliflr acre. 



The crop fiiould Itand till the lower part of the ftalk 

 gets a yellowifh call:, and the under leaves begin to wi- 

 ther, except when the flax is defigned for an extraordi- 

 nary fine manufacture, or a blight or firing has made its 

 appearance on any part of the crop ; in which aafe, it wiU 

 \t better to pull it in a green ftate. 



04 • I.t 



