168 Cultivation of Flax in Belgium. 



I am inclined to think that when intended for a crop of seed, 

 the Anthjllis should be grown on land of better quality than that 

 sown merely for sheep-feed. By acting on this impression I 

 shall carry out Professor Buckman's view of improvinr/ the plant 

 by higher culture. 



XIV. — On the Cultivation of Flax in BeJf/ium. Report by 

 R. Percy Ffrench, Second Secretary to H.B.M.'s Legation 

 at Brussels.* 



Introduction. 



Pliny, the naturalist, informs us that the Marini, whose territory 

 corresponded with what is now the South of Flanders, excelled in 

 the art of weaving flax. There is no doubt but that it was 

 cultivated to a considerable extent in the eighth century ; for 

 Charlemagne, in his Capitularies, requires that the ladies of his 

 Court " shall prepare and spin flax to make garments." 



At the beginning of this century flax occupied in Belgium at 

 least one-third more space than all the other so-called industrial 

 plants united: since then, and especially since 1840, the extent 

 of land devoted to this culture has sensibly diminished. 



In 1840 there were 40,998 hectares (102,495 acres, nearly) 

 under flax ; in 184(3, only 29,879 hectares (74,695 acres), yielding 

 211,782 hectolitres of seed (582,398 bushels), and 17,407,730 

 kilogrammes (about 17,400 tons) of fibre. 



Two varieties are generally grown in Belgium : the " vulgar" 

 flax, bearing a blue flower, and that which has a white flower. 



The last-mentioned, which is grown in the " Pays de Waes," 

 gives a coarse but abundant and hardy filament, almost ex- 

 clusively employed for mixing with hemp. The American white- 

 flowered flax has been tried in different districts with varied 

 results. The blue-flowered flax is less hardy, but yields a finer 

 and softer filament. 



The choice of seed is of great importance. There are many 

 ways of testing its quality, but the surest is by germination : in 

 some of the localities about Termonde two-year-old seed is con- 

 sidered preferable. It is winnowed in autumn, exposed five or 

 six days to the sun, then deposited in a dry place, and stirred 

 from time to time. 



Great attention is paid to the origin of the seed, whether it be 

 grown for seed or for filament; northern seed being used for the 

 former, and southern for the latter purpose. 



* Placed at the disposal of the Royal Agricultural Society by Her Majesty's 

 Secretary for Foreign Affairs. 



