XIV PREFACE. 



Upon my own premises, under the agency of Belgians 

 from the celebrated Courtrai district, several young 

 people have become expert hand-scutchers, and are ready 

 to go out as instructors; others are also being taught 

 to dress flax by machinery ; and, in fact, a complete 

 establishment is formed, such as ought to have been 

 under the management of local societies: but the cold 

 neglect of some, and the inconsiderate opposition of others, 

 compelled me to pursue an independent course. It is 

 therefore with inexpressible feelings of gratitude towards 

 an overruling Providence, that I find myself in a position 

 to employ a number of youths, from thirteen years old 

 and upwards, at wages varying from 5s. to 9s. per week, 

 whose previous subsistence was extremely precarious, and 

 whose reformed habits evince the salutary effect of constant 

 work at adequate wages. 



It is impossible to portray the moral benefits con- 

 ferred wherever flax- culture is introduced; particularly 

 upon that part of the population which, being deficient 

 in physical power, can obtain no permanent employ- 

 ment, and is a pest to society. Experience has proved 

 that, without occupation, it is in vain to expect the 

 reformation of the idle: upon this plea alone the Flax 

 Cause has a just claim upon the support of the British 

 public ; and, when the plans described in this work are 

 taken into the account, it is evident that all who are 

 interested in, or dependent upon, agriculture, must per- 

 ceive the necessity of adopting them. 



Thus, by a combination of views and interests, the 

 cultivation of flax, the fattening of cattle with native 

 produce, box- feeding and summer-grazing, will be found 



