38 THE HON. W. R. ROUS EXPLAINS 



The prominent part that I was induced to take in promoting 

 the formation of the Norfolk Flax Society originated from my 

 having incidentally sown an acre of land with linseed for the 

 purpose of obtaining a substitute for oil-cake, not being aware 

 that linseed and flax-seed were synonymous. But after I had 

 discovered the real properties of the plant, and the employ- 

 ment that it would afford, I considered it an imperative duty 

 to call public attention to the subject in every possible way, 

 and I urged upon Mr. Rous the desirableness of convening a 

 Meeting at Norwich ; accordingly, he published the following 

 letter, addressed 



To the Noblemen, Clergy, Gentry, Yeomanry, and others interested 

 in the prosperity of the County of Norfolk. 



MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN, 



THE precarious state of my health rendering it extremely 

 problematical whether I shall be able to attend the first 

 Meeting of the Flax Society on the 6th of January, I have 

 begged the indulgence of the Press to circulate these few 

 remarks as to the objects of this Society, and the grounds on 

 which it rests its hopes of success. 



The objects of the Society are 



Firstly. By a partial alteration of the rotation of crops to 

 increase the annual profits of the cultivators of the soil. 



Secondly. By the introduction of flax, the culture of which 

 affords considerable employment to women and children, to add 

 to the scanty earnings of the agricultural labourer. 



The third object we have in view is to open a new source of 

 employment for the manufacturers of the city of Norwich, and 

 thus to relieve the distress so prevalent among the industri- 

 ously-disposed poor of that ancient city. 



Such, my Lords and Gentlemen, are the objects of this 

 Society. It is for you to decide whether they are worthy of 

 your support ; for without that general support, of which we 

 deem it worthy, this Society must cease to exist. It may 



