Flax-Culture in Encjland and Ireland. 199 



their old works were burnt down, and the difficulties which 

 thereon arose were only surmounted by the offer ot Sir E. 

 Kerrison to erect new works at his own cost on a more eligible 

 site, which he provided at the distance of half a mile from the 

 town. These new works, which I have lately visited, are 

 approaching their completion, the buildings being finished, and 

 the machinery at work in the scutching department, though some 

 of the arrangements connected with the retting have still to be 

 organised. 



I have little doubt, though I cannot speak with authority, that 

 the fire, though disastrous in itself, will have served to provide us 

 Avith a good model for imitation in these works, in which the 

 lessons derived from past experience will be embodied ; and, 

 although a detailed account may well await their completion, 

 still a slight survey of their geneial aspect may be of immediate 

 use to those who possibly are looking around, and considering 

 Avhether they can adopt a similar course. 



These first-class works can turn out 10 tons of fine flax-fibre 

 per week, or 500 in the course of the year, and would conse- 

 C[uently require a supply of about 3000 tons of flax-straw, the 

 produce of, say, 2000 acres of land. 



They require a constant daily water-supply of 3000 barrels of 

 36 gallons each, a small portion of which should be soft water. 



It will be desirable that 40 or 50 acres of meadow-land should 

 be available for drying the flax. 



It is also important that some sandy land at a lower level 

 should be at hand, to receive and purify the refuse-water before 

 it is returned to adjacent streams. The cost of the requisite 

 buildings and vats will amount to about 2500Z. The machinery 

 and plant will probably cost about 2000Z. 



The following is the course pursued by the Messrs. Chase : — 

 After the flax has been pulled and stacked by the farmer, and 

 continued in the stack until it is thoroughly dry, they purchase 

 both seed and straw, and furnish a machine and attendants to 

 strip off the seed at the farm for the charge of 8^. per acre. The 

 average crop is said to be \^ ton of straw, worth 4/. lOs. per 

 ton, and 4^ stacks of seed, worth 33^. per sack. The average 

 return to the farmer is therefore about 14/. per acre. 



The flax-straw on its arrival at the works is weighed on a 

 Aveigh-bridge, and then stacked, to await its turn in the vats. 

 The latter will not be in use during the winter months, and 

 should therefore have sufficient power to furnish in six months a 

 year's supply for the scutching department. 



Warm water, derived from the condensed steam, being used in 

 the vats, the process of steeping is complete in four days, instead 

 of occupying two or three weeks. The straw when steeped passes 



