FLAX. 



Ill 



the ex-eerfs are very unskilful and careless flax-growers, leaving both seed 

 and fibre in a dirty state. 



The annual ilax product of Russia has been officially estimated at 361,156,068 

 pounds, at 333 pounds per acre, in addition to a considerable quantity in the 

 south of Russia grown for seed and for fuel. Almost one hundred fold the 

 amount of our flax-fibre product is thus produced in Russia. 



The exports of seed from Odessa alone are reported for 1860 at 1,182,574 

 bushels, valued at $1,748,715, or $1 48 per bushel. The price has formerly 

 been from $1 to $1 25 per bushel. The total exports for 1860 were 9,771,666 

 bushels. Riga flax for seed was exported in the same year to the extent of 

 682,120 bushels, sent mainly to Belgium, France, Ireland, and the German states. 



The Russians have recently imported large quantities of first-class spinning 

 machinery, and engaged skilful foreigners to manage it. They are obtaining 

 almost a monopoly of the trade in ships' cordage. As early as 1824 the liueu 

 manufacture in Russia amounted to $2,338,300. 



The culture and manufacture of flax have long been important branches of 

 Austrian industry. The manufacture is mainly done by hand in the houses 

 of the peasants, and is a more extensive interest than any other manufacture. 

 The annual product of fibre is about 190,000,000 pounds. 



In France, Holland, and Belgium flax culture has attained its highest eleva- 

 tion, and the finest fibre known to the manufacture is produced. The soil is 

 reduced to a uniform texture, with all the care and labor applied to the prep- 

 aration of garden plots. Manures are supplied, through the highest skill of 

 practical chemistry, to supply deficiencies and equalize excesses of the various 

 ingredients; 



The Irish acknowledge that a better system of cultivation must be secured, 

 or they can never expect to compete with Belgium in the production of fine 

 fibre for the cambric manufacture. 



The exports from Belgium and Holland have of late greatly increased, with 

 a corresponding increase in manufactures. England received from Holland, in 

 1859, 4,429 tons; in 1860, 7,441 tons; in 1861, 6.170 tons; from Belgium, in 

 1859, 4,971 tons; in 1860, 6,273 tons; in 1861, 6,501 tons. 



The home product of Great Britain is mainly the growth of Ireland, a coun- 

 try, in climate, soil, and conditions of labor, well suited to flax culture ; yet 

 the business is subject to sudden and wide fluctuations. When grain is high, 

 the acreage in flax is diminished ; when low, the farmer sows more flax. It is 

 the crop of the small farmer, pulled, steeped, scutched, and cleaned b}^ his wife 

 and children, its proceeds serving to keep the wolf from the door of his lowly 

 cabin, and to add to the comforts of his home. 



Not only is there fluctuation in the acreage, but the yield per acre is quite 

 as irregular as the extent of area sown, as may be seen by the following table : 



Year. 



Acreage. 



Yield per acre. 



1854. 

 1855. 

 1856. 

 1857. 

 1858. 

 1859. 

 1860. 

 1861-. 

 1862. 

 1863. 



151,403 



97,075 



106,311 



97, 721 



91.646 



136, 282 



128, 595 



147,957 



150, 070 



214,092 



526 pounds. 

 395 pounds. 

 321 pounds. 

 429 pounds. 

 443 pounds, 

 556 pounds. 



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