302 EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE. 



One great object in Mr. Warne s arrangements is to secure a 

 good supply of manure. The manure is not removed until the 

 fatting of the animal is completed ; and then, if sufficient litter 

 has been supplied, it is obvious that the manure, being protected 

 from the sun and rain, and all its liquid portions being retained 

 and absorbed in the straw, must be of the richest quality. Its 

 very superior efficacy cannot be doubted. 



I ought not to quit this subject without reverting to some 

 statements respecting the effect of flaxseed. or rather the refuse, 

 or waste, of flax, upon cows in milk. A respectable Irish farm 

 er testifies that, from one field of ten acres, he had one hundred 

 and eighty-five bushels of bows for feeding, that is, seed in the 

 capsules, and other refuse from the flax. After feeding a cow, 

 which gave only three quarts of milk, a short time, upon this 

 refuse, she soon increased her milk to nine quarts per day. 

 Another farmer testifies to a similar fact, where a cow, which only 

 gave two quarts, was improved so as to give nine ; and, upon dis 

 continuing this food, she went back to four quarts. These in 

 stances, being well authenticated, seem entitled to consideration. 



Many farmers in the United States will, I think, deem this sub 

 ject worthy their consideration. The cultivation of flax has 

 been very little extended, and within my experience has, pro 

 portionately with the population, been lessened. The foot spin 

 ning-wheel of the industrious operative, formerly so pleasing 

 an ornament at the cottage door, is now to be found only among 

 the useless lumber of the garret. That, in the present daily in 

 creasing triumphs of machinery, hand-spinning, or house-weaving, 

 should ever come back, it would be quite idle to expect. Habits 

 and practices much less useful, and much less desirable, may take 

 their place ; but I should certainly be glad to see an increased 

 use of linen fabrics, on the ground both of comfort and durability, 



12. AVERAGE PRODUCE, AND USES OF THE PRODUCE. The 

 average yield of a well-cultivated crop of flax ranges between 

 five hundred and six hundred pounds ; and the quantity of seed 

 to an acre may be about fifteen bushels. The chaff and light 

 seed are saved by some, and when cooked are deemed valuable 

 food for stock. 



In the reports of the Irish Society for the Growth of Flax in 

 Ireland, a statement is given of the application of the produce 



