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flax as being due largely to the price of wheat. When wheat and 
flax show a small margin of difference in profit per acre, then flax 
is dropped in preference for wheat but when wheat is cheap and 
flax commands a good price greater attention is paid to flax. In 
discussing the crop he says: “ The result of the enquiry made on 
behalf of the Development Commissioners leaves no room for 
doubt that the climate is well suited to flax. The crop makes no 
special demand for a particular class of soil, so long as the land is 
properly prepared and suitably manured. Light loam, however, 
may be said to be most favourable and chalk least favourable to a 
fibre crop. Large areas of suitable land are to be found in York- 
shire and Somersetshire, as well as in the midland and eastern 
counties, Flax can be grown successfully as a fibre crop in this 
country and at the same time the seed which it bears can be profit- 
ably saved; indeed, this is the practice which was formerly 
adopted. The flax crop is somewhat more troublesome than the 
usual farm crops but no difficulty in its cultivation need be appre- 
hended provided practical information be placed at the disposal of 
farmers. This could be done easily and there is every reason to 
believe that good crops of flax would again be raised here if 
attention were given to the work.” With regard to retting, the 
author suggests that small retting depédts should be established out 
of public funds each one capable of dealing with the produce of 
100 acres. Such retteries would doubtless be of the greatest benefit 
to growers and would go far towards re-establishing the industry, 
for the retting process in the past has been the chief stumbling- 
block to many growers. : 
Referring to the agricultural requirements of flax the author has 
arrived at the conclusion that good flax can be grown on a great 
variety of soils, providing their texture be suitable. Very heavy 
clay is not recommended, neither is chalk, whilst soil rich in humus 
and peaty moorland are also undesirable. Any other clean land, 
however, which is capable of producing good grain is likely to 
produce good flax. 
With reference to seed it is said that all countries look to Russia 
for the principal supply. The seed is procured from the Baltic 
Provinces by way of Riga. It is then grown in other countries for 
about three seasons, giving rise to crops bearing seed which is 
known respectively as “Riga-Child” and “ Riga-Grandchild.” 
Where the climate is moist and dull, original Russian seed gives the 
best results, especially if the soil is light. Where the prevailing 
atmospheric conditions are dry, or the soil is somewhat heavy, 
better results are obtained by using “Child” seed although the 
results are less uniform than those from Russian seed. “ Dutch- 
Ri ild” seed is said to be highly favoured for sowing in 
Holland, Belgium, Ireland and France. It is added that “ by long 
experience merchants have found that seed from a region where 
there are certain conditions of climate, is better suited for exporta- 
tion to one country than to another ; for example, seed from a very 
d than in 
wet district does better in the drier climate of Holland 
