VALUE OF HAND-SPUN FLAX. 101 



linen that obtained the medal of the Royal Agricultural Society 

 was 30 vo., and will be presented to her Majesty. At the recom- 

 mendation of the Flax Committee, the Royal Agricultural 

 Society gave premiums for yarns at their late meeting, the 

 object of which was to try if the description of yarn made use 

 of in the manufacturing of cambrics could not be furnished at 

 home. (Hear, hear.) It is of a quality the mill-spinning can- 

 not produce, and some 30,000/. worth has now to be imported 

 annually for the cambric factories at Lurgan, Warringstown, 

 a ad elsewhere, that are so successfully competing with and 

 excluding the French and other foreign countries from the 

 English market. (Loud cheers.) The result was most grati- 

 fying. Some forty specimens of spinning on the old system 

 were sent in, and the lowest number of them was 23 hanks to 

 the lb., and up so high as 41 hanks. Now from 16 to 30 hanks 

 to the lb. is what is required, and if the count could be 

 depended upon, and quality be equal, 40 hanks at any time 

 would find a good market, and the poor industrious woman 

 make the value for her husband's fine flax of a lb. not worth 

 (Jd. amount to 20,?. or 30s. (Cheers.) New resources are thus 

 opening out for our people, and those of this fine country 

 becoming daily further developed. In conclusion, I would 

 just direct attention to these flax-machines, which Lord Erne 

 has kindly taken as models for you. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) 

 The beetling one will save you much labour, and no mill can 

 do its work so well. The rippling- combs, I hope also to hear, 

 will be in great use next season ; even if you can afford to throw 

 away the bolls of your flax, then take them off, as no flax can 

 be properly handled with them on. It should be done at the 

 time of pulling, or if the flax is dried and stacked, then they 

 must be threshed out carefully like corn, but without untying 

 the beets. 



Statement of Mr. HENDERSON, Lisdillen, County Derry, on his 

 mode of Managing Flax. 



The Earl of Erne introduced to the meeting Mr. Henderson, 

 of Lisdillen, county of Derry, who won the gold medal, the 



