IN TROD UCTION. 1 1 



the value of flax seed annually grown 

 in this country exceeds the value of 

 all the flax fibre raised in Great Britain 

 and Ireland, equals the value of the cele- 

 brated Belgian flax crop, is far in excess 

 of the value of the Dutch crop, and is four 

 or five times more valuable than all the 

 flax fibre, straw, and tow of flax, now 

 imported into this country for domestic 

 manufacture, while it is of ten times 

 greater value than all the manufactures 

 of linen imported, other than woven 

 fabrics, which are not manufactured here 

 except in limited quantity. The Territory 

 of Dakota alone produces flax seed to the 

 extent of double the value of all the flax 

 fibre imported. It is stated in a recent 

 official document that " in many instances 

 a single crop [of seed] has paid for the 

 land, in addition to the cost of breaking 

 and planting." With such facts before us, 

 and bearing in mind the so-called arguments 

 in favor of maintaining a duty on scutched 

 and hackled flax with the supposed object 

 of inducing the growth of flax fibre, it may 

 be expected that we shall next be gravely 

 informed that the major is contained in the 



