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THE FLAX PLANT. 273 
- On the Composition and Ciconomy of the Flax Plant. By Dr. HopcGEs, 
F.C.8., Professor of Agriculture, Queen’s College, Belfast, and 
Chemist to the Chemico-Agricultural Society. 
Next in importance to the study of the substances which serve man for food, 
is the investigation of the composition and ceconomy of the materials which 
yield him clothing. Among the plants which, from the most remote anti- 
quity, have been valued for their textile adaptation, those of the Linacez 
family—and especially the Linum usitatissimum, a native of our own country, 
and widely spread over Europe, and also found in Hindostan and North 
America—have occupied a prominent place; the flax plant, we have reason 
to believe, having been cultivated for its fibre in the earliest seats of civi- 
lization, and manufactured in the tents of the patriarchal fathers of our race. 
We find that it was worn in the temples, and the microscope has demon- 
strated that it was entombed in the sepulchres of Egypt. It also appears 
that its valuable qualities were known to the ancient tribes of northern and 
western Europe. 
A complete account of the flax plant, and its industrial applications in 
Ireland, should include—l1st, the history of flax cultivation in Ireland; 2nd, 
an account of the processes of cultivation ; 3rd, an examination of the chemical 
composition of the plant; 4th, an account of its technical preparation. 
The second division of the subject, however, belongs so exclusively to the 
practical department of agriculture, that its consideration may at present be 
properly omitted; and though it would be out of place to occupy much time 
in this Section with the first division, yet a few remarks may be permitted, 
for the purpose of exhibiting the attention which, from a very remote period, 
seems to have been directed to flax cultivation in this country, and as illus- 
trative of its vast importance to the inhabitants of the province in the com- 
mercial capital of which we are now assembled. 
1. The History of Flax Cultivation in Ireland.—From the earliest pericds, 
we have reason to believe that the inhabitants of this island were acquainted, 
with the valuable qualities possessed by the fibre of the flax plant, and manu- 
factured it for clothing. By whom, however, or from what country it was 
introduced, we have no satisfactory record; for the assertion made by some 
_ writers, that the Phcenicians were the instructors of the Irish people, is 
totally destitute of historical foundation. Our Irish name for flax is Lhin, 
which word is also applied to thread, while the term Anairt, which is used 
to express a kind of coarse linen cloth worn by the peasantry, Dr. O'Donovan, 
_ of Queen’s Coliege, whose extensive and valuable researches in connexion 
_ with the native records of this kingdom are so well known, informs me has 
_ no cognate term in any language with which he is acquainted, and is evidently 
a word of great antiquity. In the Brehon laws, also, we find it enjoined that 
the Brughaidhs or farmers must be acquainted with the mode of working flax. 
The linen shirt, dyed yellow, indeed, appears to have been a national dress ; 
and the celebrated jesuit, Edmund Campion, speaking of the “ meere”’ Irish, 
describes their fondness for capacious linen garments. “ Linen shirts,” he 
Says, “the rich doe weare for wantonness and bravery, with wide hanging 
sleeves, playted; thirtie yards are little enough for one of them.” ‘The 
importance of flax cultivation in Ireland appears to have been fully recognized 
by the English government, as may be inferred from the number of legislative 
enactments and grants for its encouragement. In 1809, we find that govern- 
ment appropriated the sum of £20,000 for this purpose. The exertions of 
Several national societies have also been directed to the promotion of flax 
1852. T 
