24 Cultivation of Arable Land. Flax Quantity of Seed. 



fort of flax which is mod ufcful in the different manufactures ; that brought from 

 the Baltic is fupp^fed to produce a coarfer fort of flax, but a larger proportion 

 of feed/ than any of the other kinds. The American feed yields in general a flax 

 fufficiently fine j but the feed pods being fmali, there is not fo large a quantity 

 of feed obtained from it. In Yorkfhire they frequently fow the feed of home 

 produce for white flax ; but where feed is intended to be taken, the Baltic fort 

 is preferred, which, for the- fucceeding and a year or two afterwards, is found 

 to anfwer well as white flax. And in the northern paits of the kingdom it is 

 often a practice- to fbw feed obtained from the crop of the preceding year, efpe- 

 cially where it w*s raifed from imported feed. It is fuppofed by the cultivators 

 of this fort of crop, that thrir fuccefs in raifing it depends greatly on the feed 

 being frequently changed, and fuch as is imported from abroad being made ufe 

 of. It is probable, however, that if that felected from the fined and mod per 

 fectly ripened feed of our own growth was employed, it would be equally 

 productive both in the flaxy fubdance and the quantity of feed, and at the fame 

 time afford the lormer of an equally good quality for all the purpofes of the 

 manufacturer. In Ireland they prefer the American feed for their lighter and 

 more elevated grounds, and ihe Dutch or Baltic for thofe of the more heavy 

 kind.* 



Quantity of feed, The proportion of feed is variable according to the cir- 

 cunidances of the foil, the ufes to which the produce is to be applied, and the 

 method of fowing that is practifed; but in general from two bufhels to two 

 and a half may be confidered as diffident for the acre, when fown in the broad- 

 caft manner. It- mould never be ibwn very thick, except where the flax is re 

 quired to be very fine in quality. For, when the feed is fown too thick, the 

 plants, from being fo clofe together, are liable to be drawn up to a great height 

 and become weak, consequently to fall down upon the ground in cafe of much 

 wet weather, and the produce be thereby greatly injured in its colour and other 

 properties. But in the drill mode of fowing, a much lefs proportion of feed 

 will be found fufBcient. If the didance of the rows be eighteen or twenty 

 inches, lefs than one half of the above quantity will anfwer the purpofes of the 

 cultivator. 



In (hort, where the crop is intended to dand for feed, in whatever manner 

 the fowing is performed, a much lefs proportion of feed ftiould be employed than 

 where the flax is the chief object. 



* Martyn s edition of Miller s Di&ionary, art. Lin urn* 



