62 FLAX CULTURE 



the raw material, whether dressed or un- 

 dressed, free of duty ; and with this devel- 

 opment the farmer will in time find a 

 profitable market open to him. 



5. The quality of the fibre is so depend- 

 ent on favorable conditions of soil, climate, 

 and water, that it is questionable if any 

 one country can produce the entire range 

 of qualities of flax necessary for the manu- 

 facture of linen thread and fine linen. 



6. Even under the most favorable cir- 

 cumstances, many years must elapse before 

 the American farmer can acquire the requi- 

 site skill to produce fine flax. 



7. The manufacturers must have quality 

 at any cost. 



This admirable summary, made by intel- 

 ligent manufacturers, states the whole sit- 

 uation, and suggests the true remedy for 

 the existing difficulties. The Western 

 farmer does not raise flax for fibre, because 

 he has no market for it, the few flax-mills 

 being all in a narrow compass on the 

 Eastern seaboard ; and the fate of the 



