PRICE OF LINSEED AT LYNN. 209 



will see it his interest to engage the man, rather than persist 

 in paying 85. per stone for scutching flax, which, if properly 

 prepared, can be readily done for 1*. $d. or 2s. 



The same work can be performed by a sctitching-mill at 

 Wd. or Is. per stone; but even then, we must wait* with pa- 

 tience till our labourers have learned the art of using it, before 

 we, or they, can fully reap the benefit. Hence the necessity 

 of an Association to defray the expense of teachers and the 

 support of pupils. 



Great is the absurdity of Mr. Gower's endeavour to make 

 the public believe, that the future cost of scutching flax must 

 always be '3s. per stone. Equally so is his attempt to under- 

 value linseed in general, by estimating his own at only 25s. 

 per coomb. 



Presuming that Mr. Gower's linseed, like most samples that 

 I have seen of Norfolk growth, is of first-rate quality, and fit 

 for sowing, I assert that such seed has long been worth at 

 market 36s., per coomb, and is still rising in price. I think, 

 therefore, that I did not greatly err in valuing it at 30s. for 

 cattle-food. Besides, I find that five measures of home-grown 

 linseed are equal to six of foreign. At that rate it is used 

 upon my own premises with great success. The best foreign 

 crushing linseed at Lynn is now worth 27s. per coomb, but I 

 take the medium price at 25s., and allow one-sixth for its infe- 

 riority as to quality and weight, which makes our own amount 

 to 30s. for crushing purposes ; and I am confident that it is 

 cheaper at that rate than foreign linseed, or oil-cake at 6/. per 

 ton. 



Last year, Mr. Gower paid 45s. per barrel for three bushels 

 and a half of foreign sowing linseed. Messrs. Mackie and Co., 

 of Norwich, sold English at 10s. 6d. per bushel, and Norfolk 

 growers sold theirs at the same price, amongst whom I believe 

 was Mr. Gower himself. 



Mr. Demann, the Belgian, has again been an importer. 

 Many sacks of Norfolk seed are already bespoken, and will 

 shortly pass through Mr. Gower's farm on the way to Yar- 

 mouth, from thence by sea to different parts of the kingdom. I 

 have every reason to think that some thousand acres of flax- 

 seed will be sown this year, a circumstance at which I devoutly 



p 



