PROCEEDINGS OP THE FARMEHs' CLUB. 219 



Le had never seen nor heard of chess growing where the cereals 

 had not been sown. 



Dr. Trimble. — There is almost invariably chess seed in wheat. 



AMERICAN SILK. 



On motion of Mr. E. Henry, the " Culture of Silk " was selected 

 for discussion at the next meeting. 



FLAX. 



Mr. Carpenter. — The subject of to-day, the growing of flax, I 

 consider more important than either silk or cotton. Although 

 grown to a considerable extent in former years, this fibre has 

 been very much neglected lately in this country, and especially 

 since cotton has been so extensively introduced. Flax is very 

 durable, comfortable to wear, easily cultivated, and by the aid of 

 improved machinery it can be converted into a material equal 

 in some respects to the best of silk. I am told that the new 

 machinery produces a fibre equal to the best Sea Island cotton ; 

 and it is improved by being mixed with cotton, taking a silky 

 appearance. 



Prof. Nash described the method of cultivating flax. It requires 

 a strong soil, and is an exhausting crop. Half a bushel of seed 

 to the acre is sufficient in raising the seed, but up to a bushel 

 and a half may be sown when the fibre is to be used. Being 

 sown so thickly it grows more slender and the fibre is finer. The 

 soil is plowed the first of May, or as soon as the weather becomes 

 warm, and is harrowed nicely, and the seed being scattered evenly 

 a bush is passed over it, so as barely to cover them. When the 

 upper bolls are ripe, and the lower ones green, it is ready to be 

 pulled. 



Mr. Robinson stated that the steam gun, invented by Mr. Allen, 

 of the Novelty Works, converts the stalks into a very fine fibre at 

 a very moderate expense. 



Dr. Trimble explained the old processes of hatcheling, etc., and 

 expressed the opinion that if they could be superceded by the 

 new machiner}', it would tend to cause flax to become a substi- 

 tute for cotton. 



Dr. Jarvis considered linen superior to cotton or wool as an 

 article of clothing. Cotton is continually giving off minute par- 

 ticles, filling the atmosphere, and inhaled by the lungs. He con- 

 sidered cotton as a curse, from its electrical action, while linen 

 is beneficial, and there is far less dust from it. He doubted 



