PROCEEDINGS OF THE POLYTECHNIC ASSOCIATION. 491 



operation, and the character of the product yielded by it. They 

 are, without exception, convinced that the following facts are 

 established : 



First. — A machine capable of producing seventy pounds of 

 fibre in ten hours, can be sold at a price not exceeding one hun- 

 dred and thirty dollars, at the factory ready for shipment. 



Second. — The yield of flax fibre, by the use of this machine, 

 in proportion to the weight of flax-straw dres&ed, exceeds by at 

 least one-third that obtained by any other machine or process. 



Third. — The fibre dressed by this machine is much more valu- 

 able than that dressed in any other way. 



Fourth. — This machine is so simple in its coustruction and 

 operation that the liability to derangement is very slight, and 

 the facility for keeping in order very great. 



Fifth. — This machine does not require in its use any peculiar 

 skill. It can be operated by boys or girls, and does not involve 

 any risk ta the hands or arms of operatives, while the ordinary 

 scutching machines require the use of skilled labor, and, as 

 experience has proved, is always attended with risk to the opera- 

 tives. 



Sixth. — This machine can be driven by any of the horse 

 powers in use, and as it can be operated by ordinary farm labor, 

 it enables the farmer to dress and prepare for market at a little 

 expense the flax raised by himself, thus opening to him a new 

 and profitable field of labor. 



Seventh. — The machine is small, occupying three feet square, 

 and weighing about four hundred and fifty pounds. 



The amount of flax fibre produced in the United States in the 

 year 1850 was 7,806,8U9 pounds. Had the straw from which this 

 amount of fibre was taken been dressed by the Sanford machine, 

 the yield would have been not less than 10,409,078 pounds. The 

 increased product at present prices, would be worth $312,271.86. 



When it is remembered that in many of the western States 

 an immense quantity of flax is raised for the seed alone, the 

 straw being destroyed or wasted as of no value, it will readily 

 be seen that the introduction among farmers of a cheap and 

 effective machine, capable of converting what would otherwise 

 go to waste, into an article of great value, cannot fail to produce 

 the most important results. 



It is well known that flax can be successfully cultivated in all 

 the northern States. If, in addition to the value of the seed — 



