38 FLAX CULTURE AND PREPARATION 



period of application. The influence on the yield of flax straw 

 and fibre by the application of different kinds of manures and 

 fertilizers is illustrated by the graphs at Figs. 14, 15 and 16, 

 which have been prepared from the official records of manurial 

 experiments connected with the preparation and growth of 

 flax as conducted by the Department of Agriculture and 

 Technical Instruction for Ireland. 



Figs. 14 and 15 represent the average yield per acre of flax 

 straw and fibre from seven like plots, each on nine different 

 farms. The characteristics and class of soil on the nine farms 

 were as follows 



On 3 farms, medium loam clay subsoil. 

 2 heavy loam - 

 ,,2 light loam gravelly subsoil. 

 ,, 1 ,, medium loam sandy ,, 



,, 1 ,, peaty top light clay 

 Fig. 16 shows the manurial results averaged for the like 

 plots on the three farms where the loam was of medium tilth 

 with a clay subsoil. It also shows the influence of the various 

 manures on one of the light soils with a gravelly subsoil. 



For each application of manure represented by the graphs 

 a slight net increase in profit was realized. The true economist, 

 patriot, and humanitarian is, however, induced by higher 

 motives than that of profit to increase the production of 

 material which, after all, is the chief form of wealth. We are 

 frequently reminded that the habitable globe is now generally 

 occupied and that we must look forward to relatively fewer 

 and more expensive products ; land and rents will increase ; 

 consequently every application of science and labour which 

 tends to increase production, either of food stuffs or clothing, 

 adds considerably to the material wealth of the race. 



