4 FLAX. 



article, but, as Von Timer remarks, the agricultural 

 population would obtain a considerable increase of work 

 and wages. "We consequently here gladly devote a portion 

 of our space to the enthusiastic and at the same time just 

 remarks which Mr. Warnes lets fall in his advocacy of 

 the growth of flax at home. 



"The indirect advantages to be derived from flax 

 culture are of greater importance than the direct, whether 

 the profits be 9 per acre, according to my experience, or 

 4, according to that of a Hampshire gentleman. If 

 land-owners in general could be induced to lend their 

 aid, the necessity for prodigious workhouses and prison 

 establishments would be obviated. There was a time 

 when England produced flax largely, but, on account of 

 corn becoming more remunerative, Belgium obtained the 

 ascendancy. The scale, however, is now turned ; flax 

 has become the profitable crop. Flax has to pass through 

 many processes and many hands before it is presented at 

 the counter for sale, even for the commonest purposes. 

 Still more costly, however, are the cambrics, lace, &c., 

 formed from flax, which would afford profitable occupation 

 to thousands of the female population, now reduced to 

 want and impelled to crime. Herein, therefore, consists 

 the great providence of the crop, viz.: it contributes to 

 the employment, the maintenance, and the profit of 

 many classes ; it provides, at the same time, clothing, 

 cattle-food, and manure ; it contributes to the produc- 

 tion of cheap bread, and confers upon mankind greater 

 benefits than any other crop whatever. 



"Unlike cotton, linen can be placed before the 

 customer free from the taint and villany of slavery. For 

 not only in every nook in England, Scotland, and 

 Ireland, can flax be profitably cultivated, but in all those 

 regions whither our emigrants are sent; hence, if 

 initiated in the management of flax, they would naturally 

 become contributors to the parent country, and, though 

 absent, a reciprocity of interests be for ever cemented. 

 It cost this country twenty millions to remove the guilt 



