568 REPORT OP THE COMMISSIONER OP AGRICULTURE. 



This sliows an increase in the first decade — the i)roduction being 

 doubled in Kentucky — and a very great decline in the second. The 

 coming census will no doubt change these figures materially as the pro- 

 duct of Kentucky has only slightly increased since 1870, varying from 

 7,000 to 8,000, while in some other States there has been a decided in- 

 crease. With hemp production, hemp manufacture has also declined 

 greatly in Kentucky since the last census reports were made. Major 

 Proctor of the State survey is of opinion that not more than 2,500 tons 

 of hemp tow are now used in the manufacture of cordage, twine, and 

 bagging, in the State. He gives as the several causes for the decline 

 in cordage manufacture the introduction of manila fiber, the decrease in 

 American ship-building, and the introduction of imx)roved machinery 

 in the East. " The extent of the change wrought by the introduction 

 of improved methods is shown in the fact that in 1840, 4,464 operatives 

 produced $4,078,306 worth of cordage, and in 1870, 3,698 operatives pro- 

 duced $8,979,382 worth of cordage." 



FOREIGN SUPPLY. 



The imports of flax and hemp, raw and manufactured, during the year 

 1879 amount to $5,781,710, and of this amount, $2,798,465 was paid 

 for the raw material in the ratio of one to two, flax being the lesser 

 import. 



For the foreign flax supply we depend mainly upon six or seven coun- 

 tries, and in the last ten years but fifteen countries are represented in 

 all, only eight furnishing a steady supply. Since 1877, inclusive, Eussia 

 has furnished the largest amount and England next, the last-named coun- 

 try leading in the seven years previous. A considerable amount comes 

 from Canada, either in the form of tow or line. The tow being subject 

 to a duty of $10 a ton when intended for bagging manufacture, though 

 it comes in free for paper-stock. The Boston market is largely supplied 

 from Archangel, either direct or via England, though a large quantity 

 of this fiber also comes to the port of New York. Holland flax is used 

 to sonxe extent, though it is not in such demand as formerly. At one 

 time it was considered the most perfectly prepared flax in the market, 

 being even at the ends well cleaned and strong. Kotterdam and Zea- 

 land flax is imported in small quantities, and Belgium sends us small 

 amounts, varying in the ten years from five to seventy-five tons. But 

 ten tons were reported for the year 1879. 



It is difficult to get at the true figures as regards any one market, on 

 account of the increased amount of indirect importation in small quan- 

 tities. Messrs. R. B. Storer & Co., Boston, estimate the quantity of 

 flax — hackled and line — and also of tow received in that market during 

 the year 1879 to be 3,730,000 pounds. By far the largest portion, oi 

 3,583,400 pounds, was received from Eussia, and of this quantity 

 1,405,300 pounds was imported in the form of tow. The small balance 

 was received chiefly ftom Ireland and the Netherlands, there being 

 59,500 pounds from the former country and 87,100 pounds from the lat- 

 ter. Very little line or dressed flax was imported last year, nearly all 

 of it being hackled or undressed, and flax in this condition of a supe- 

 rior quality is imported at a slight duty because a partial manufacture. 



In 1879 t he flax importation into New York, as per figures furnished 

 by Barbour Brothers, amounted to 1,420 tons, or 3,180,800 pounds; 970 

 tons of this was flax costing from $300 to $550 per ton, leaving 450 tons 

 of tow valued at $225 per ton, a total valuation of flax and tow to the 

 amount of $600,000. 



