58 FLAX CULTURE 



Russia, on the other hand, all flax ex- 

 ported is subjected to government in- 

 spection, which establishes regular and 

 uniform grades of flax. The manufac- 

 turer, therefore, prefers the imported flax, 

 though it costs a third more. 1 The Report 

 for 1879 emphasizes the point that flax 

 culture " is, in one sense, a trade to be 

 thoroughly learned, and followed after it 

 is acquired." 



The question naturally arises, that if 

 this is all true, why is it that the Flax and 

 Hemp Spinners and Growers' Association 

 persist in asking for the retention of the 

 duty? This question can receive no satis- 

 factory answer. A hint may perhaps be 

 gotten from some of the testimony before 

 the Tariff Commission. 



We have already had some instructive 

 quotations from the testimony of Mr. 

 Hiram Sisson, who represented the flax- 

 growing industry. As a grower, his 

 evidence is of value. 



1 Rep. Dept. Ag. 1879, p. 573. 



