316 PRIZE PROPOSED FOR AN ESSAY ON FLAX, 



Associations have also taken the subject into consideration ; 

 and even the Royal Agricultural Society of England has 

 offered a prize of 20/. for the best Essay on Flax ; a prize to 

 which the Marquis of Downshire has promised to add 30/., 

 thus conveying at once his own opinion of the importance of 

 the subject and a refined reproof to the Council at Hanover 

 Square for their ill-timed parsimony. 



My views of patriotism forbid me, upon any occasion, to 

 enter the lists with prize-writers; otherwise I should have 

 been anxious to know who were to be the judges of a subject 

 upon which there is not one man in England, at the present 

 time, competent to decide. 



Without a practical knowledge of the improved system of 

 management,, the most fatal errors are likely to be disseminated, 

 individuals injured, and a good cause retarded. For instance, 

 I lately saw an extract from a widely circulated treatise, 

 recommending the sowing of flax after turnips ; than which a 

 worse rotation could not have been proposed. This error, and 

 many others connected with the old system, can of course only 

 be detected by parties versed in the new ; nor can they be 

 remedied by theoretical disquisitions of any kind, experience 

 being the only guide to perfection. 



I desire to be clearly understood upon these points; for, 

 though I have explained the art of preparing flax from my 

 own experience, I am persuaded that it is impossible for ama- 

 teurs to follow the directions with success. Whereas, an un- 

 lettered boy from my scutching-house could afford more inform- 

 ation in one day with his hands, than could be obtained from 

 the pen of the most elaborate essayist in many years. In con- 

 firmation of this statement I can only say that, all my cor- 

 respondents who attempted to steep and prepare flax from 

 written instructions, failed. The reverse, however, is the case 

 with those who follow my rules respecting the cattle-compound, 

 boxes, &c. For all, without exception, appear to succeed. 



Except the information contained in the note appended to 

 the 16th number of the series, relative to the use of flax-stalks 

 as food for cattle, I have made no new discoveries. The above 

 fact is worthy of attention, as a new light is thereby thrown 



