OF THE COUNTY OF DOWN. 89 



crop, of by grafs, for which flax is a good preparative, 

 the idea, though not according to an approved rota- 

 tion, is not fo reprehenfible as many others. Fallowing, 

 I underfland, is a fuperior preparation for flax, and I 

 have feen very fine crops on rich and mellow lay. A 

 foil approaching to clay is reckoned the beft for it, as it 

 gives a firmnefs of texture, which enables it to bear 

 the many operations it is obliged, to undergo. 



2d fort There are two kinds of flax- feed imported, 

 Dutch feed and American ; the Dutch is beft adapted 

 to heavy, the New England to light foils. The price 

 of the former is generally higher than the latter, but 

 the increafed produce, on a foil fit for it, amply com- 

 penfates for the difference. 



3d. Seed, quantity fonun, &c. I fhall here take the 

 liberty of inferting, in Mr. Chrifty's own words, his 

 account of the manner, in which he cultivates this fun- 

 damental article of our ftaple manufacture. " Flax. 

 This I fow moftly after wheat, giving the land one fur- 

 row before winter, with a crop and common ploughing 

 in fpring, when it is ready to be fown. The land is 

 finely harrowed before the feed is fown, and then har- 

 rowed with a clofe harrow with fifty- fix teeth, which 

 does not fink the feed too deep; the furrows are 

 neatly {hovelled up, the ft ones gathered off and thrown 

 into them, and the whole is rolled. I generally fow 

 three and one-half bufhels on an Irifn acre, and find it 

 fufficiently thick. Laft fummer, 1800, proving favour- 



N able 



