AND USE IN UNITED STATES. 29 



for the years 1881, 1882, 1883, at tne end 

 of the tables showing the production of 

 flax: "This crop is of very uneven dis- 

 tribution throughout the State, though not 

 for lack of adaptation of soil or climate. 

 The total production has much diminished 

 since the change in the tariff on jute. It 

 was formerly considered one of our best 

 paying crops for its cost of production, 

 and was somewhat extensively raised/' x 

 Jute is an East-Indian fibre used in the 

 manufacture of coarse bagging. The Agri- 

 cultural Report of the United States for 

 1877 also shows that the fibre produced 

 was of the very coarsest kind, and the 

 production was stopped by the placing of 

 jute on the free list. In Portage County, 

 Ohio, the report goes on to say, "The 

 largest flax-mill in operation a few years 

 ago has failed. The market for seed and 

 fibre was too far away ; and though the crop 

 paid well, it was thought to be exhaust- 

 ing to the land ; and now one may travel 

 hundreds of miles in the county, and not 



1 See Rep. Dept. of Ag. Ohio, 1883, p. 405. 



