30 AUTHOR ADVOCATES THE 



For instance, we cannot prevent the miller from purchasing 

 foreign wheat the baker from purchasing foreign flour the 

 merchant, barley or the manufacturer and the mechanic, 

 meat. But we can control the indirect purchase of those very 

 articles in the shape of foreign manure and of foreign cake. 

 I hold in my hand a pamphlet in which I have endeavoured 

 to point out the way to become independent of foreigners for 

 artificial food for our cattle, and manure for our land, to which 

 I beg to refer you. It would be bad taste were I now to de- 

 tain you with details which I trust you will read at your 

 leisure. I do not expect that they will be followed all at once, 

 but I believe that in proportion as they are adopted, the in- 

 jurious effects of the corn-law and the tariff will be materially 

 obviated. No one has a right to complain who will not refuse 

 to purchase indirectly those articles, the direct introduction of 

 which he so much condemns. But we are not now assembled 

 to discuss the merits of the cattle- compound versus foreign 

 oil-cake; our object is to take into consideration the de- 

 sirableness of forming a society to extend and improve the 

 growth of flax. For this purpose have these specimens been 

 collected from various growers, principally between North 

 Walsham and Norwich. They are placed before you in order 

 that the discussion may in some measure be assisted by the 

 practical illustration which they afford. There is nothing 

 very striking in the appearance of those sheaves beyond their 

 novelty. But when we inquire into their properties and the 

 various uses to which they can be applied to the service of 

 man, we are struck with wonder and admiration. The seed is 

 called linseed, and is, of all food yet discovered, the most 

 fattening when judiciously given to cattle. Even the refuse, 

 as you are aware, is, when made into cake, of considerable 

 value; and the oil, when mixed with white lead, surpasses 

 everything else for preserving wood. The chaff will be found 

 serviceable as manure, and as food for horses. I had some 

 put on a small part of a field, by way of experiment, that was 

 about to be sown with turnips, and was in all other respects 

 treated as the rest of the field ; the spot on which the chaff 

 had been thrown was decidedly the best, and with respect to 

 its value for cattle, I will read an account from this little 



