204 MR. GOWER'S FLAX CROP. 



In some instances 1 Ib. only, out of 13 of prepared flax-stalks, 

 was obtained, which is three times more waste than is now made 

 in scutching properly-prepared flax at Trimingham. Besides, 

 the flax in question was grown by amateurs in 1842. As 

 amateurs, too, they sent it to North Walsham, where by 

 novices it was reduced to tow ; and then, contrary to the prin- 

 ciples upon which the Norfolk Flax Society was formed, they 

 were compelled, alas ! to pay even for the waste of their own 

 property. No wonder, then, that Mr. Rous should exclaim, 

 "Indeed I have no proof of its having been profitable in a 

 single instance." Cases of profit, however, are recorded. I 

 select two ; one by the hon. gentleman himself, in his letter of 

 the 6th of December, addressed " to the Noblemen, Clergy, 

 Gentry, Yeomanry, and others interested in the prosperity of 

 the county of Norfolk;" and re-published in my pamphlet 

 entitled f Reasons for the Cultivation of Flax; or, a Voice 

 for the Poor ;' where he observes, " I may as well state, 

 that Mr. Atkinson of Bacton threshed out at the rate of six 

 coombs two bushels of seed per acre, and that he has been 

 offered forty shillings per cwt. for the straw when slightly pre- 

 pared." 



The other, by Mr. Gower, in a letter to an agriculturist 

 in the western part of Norfolk, of which the following is a 

 verbatim extract: 



"I have no doubt of flax being a paying crop. I grew 

 four acres, part for seed, and part for the fibre. I had five 

 coombs of seed per acre off the whole, and was bid 357. for the 

 fibre after I threshed the seed ; it cost about 5s. per coomb to 

 thresh, and 17. per acre for pulling it up. I am certain it will 

 answer for the seed alone, as five coombs of seed will raise more 

 beef, and more manure in quality, than any acre of turnips we 

 ever grew." 



Herein is a marvellous account of flax and seed grown within 

 a few fields of Mr. Rous's crop, which, after allowing for seed, 

 rent, tillage, &c., the extravagant charge of 25s. for pulling 

 and threshing, and only 30 j. per coomb for the linseed obtained, 

 leaves a clear profit of 107. 5,9. per acre, exceeding that gentle- 

 man's "ample profit" by 17. Is. per acre; which, observe, is 

 exclusive of the factor's profit. A marvellous account ! Mr. 



