30 FLAX CULTURE 



see a flax field." ' " In Delaware County, 

 of the four flax-mills formerly in opera- 

 tion, the three smaller ones run about one- 

 fourth time, producing tow which now sells 

 for two and a half cents per pound." 2 



As has been said, a small amount of the 

 better grade of flax is produced in New 

 York, but even there the production is 

 rapidly falling off, and the quality declin- 

 ing. A mill at Herkimer, the same report 

 says, uses forty tons annually, and em- 

 ploys two hands, cheese dairying having 

 almost entirely superseded flax culture ; 

 and flax for the mills in Rensselaer Coun- 

 ty is largely imported from Canada and 

 Europe. 3 



In the Transactions of the New York 

 State Agricultural Society for 1870 (p. 

 491), there is a report from the secretary 

 of the local society in Washington County, 

 the source of much North River flax. He 

 says, " Favorable mention may be made of 

 the flax crop, but it becomes evident from 

 year to year that its culture is decreasing. 



1 p. 182. 2 p. 183. 3 Ibid. 



