1 800. from the PraBlce of Ireland. 1 29 



grafs grows through the flax, it muft be conflantly turn- 

 ed over. 



It is not eafy to afcertain the time the crop fliould Jye 

 in this bleaching ftate, which is intended to produce an 

 even reparation oi the rind from the cafe of the ftalk. 

 It is bed to have it examined, from time to time, by the 

 flax-drefTer, who is mod concerned that it flaould come 

 in a proper flate to the beetle or break. It is obferved, 

 however, that a good expofure to the fun renders lefs 

 fire neceflary to prepare the flax for a future procefs : 

 if it is not fuflficiently dried on the ground, which is 

 feldom the cafe in Ireland, it is then put over hurdles, 

 and dried with a gentle fire till it is fit for beetling, 

 fkutching, and the other operations of the flax-dreUer. 



In confequence of the appointment of the Honourable 

 Board of Trudees, we, the Surveyors of Flax-raifing 

 employed by them, having met together, and maturely 

 confidered a paper, containing an abilra^l of the rules 

 pra£lifed in Ireland for the cultivation and drefiTmg of 

 ilax, tranfmitted to the faid Board by the Lords of the 

 Committee of Council for Trade, beg leave to offer our 

 report and opinion thereon, as follows : 



ly?, — As to the Soil proper for Flax, and the Preparaticrt 



for the Crop, 



We confider, and have found, from experience, that 

 an open, black, loamy foil, enriched by having lain long 

 in pafture, and broke up by proper tilth, is preferable to 

 a clay foil, or any other we are acquainted with ; and 

 that either on the firfl: or fecond crop after pafture, which 

 we have always found much better than after potatoes, 

 turnips, or beans. 



2dly, — With regard to the bef Mode of proving the Goodnefs 



of Seedy 



We agree with the writer of tlie paper, that the bed 

 method of trying tlie quality of feed, is by fowing fome 

 in a hot-bed. But it fhould be obferved, that this is by 

 no means a criterion that can be depended on, and there- 

 fore 



