332 THECULTUREOF Part III. 



plants. "The foil was ftrong; but had been fo thoroughly pulverifed 

 by plowing, that it was as fine as fand. 



On the twentieth of March 1753, he fowed fix of thefe beds 

 with the drill-plough, planting fix rows of flax in each bed, and 

 ufing for that purpofe nine pounds of feeds. 



The plants came up well, and grew thick: but a froft which 

 happened in April damaged many of them. 



On the twenty-fixth of April, he fowed the fix other beds in the 

 fame manner, with 1 3 pounds of hemp-feed, which likewife came 

 up thick. 



The alleys have been horfe-hoed but once, and the plants came 

 Cn greatly, when they were beat down by hail, which did them 

 confiderable damage, tho' they afterwards recovered themfelves in 

 fome degree. The flax was pulled up on the firll of Auguft, and the 

 hemp On the eighteenth. 



This accident prevented knowing what the produce of the crop 

 might otherwife have been. The plants were taller than ufual, and 

 had many more roots; by which one may judge that they would 

 have yielded a greater quantity of flax and hemp, than in the com- 

 mon way. 



Another misfortune which attended them was, that they were 

 very badly fteeped : but yet one might eafily perceive that their 

 threads will be a great deal ftronger by this culture, than when they 

 are raifed according to the old method. 



It is of very great importance, at the fame time that the quantity 

 of the flax is increafed, to be able to add to its fi:rength. The lin-- 

 nen made of it, will be better and lafi: longer, and confequently 

 prove a confiderable faving. 



The fuperior quality of the hemp employed in the cordage of 

 fhips, is an objetfl of the utmoft importance; for it muft be of very 

 great advantage to have ropes of a lefs diameter be as ftrong as thofe 

 of a larger fize. With fuch, the fame work may be performed more 

 Cafily and more readily, and perhaps with fewer hands : probably 

 too, the ropes will be more durable. But all thefe motives of oeco- 

 " nomy are ftill vaftly inferior to the inefl:imable advantage of favino- 

 the fliips, their cargoes, and their crews, which often depends on 

 the flrength of their fails and cables. I have only barely mentioned, 

 thefe great objeds, continues M. Duhamel, to invite all who have 

 the public good at heart, to make experiments which may tend to the 

 utmoft improvement of the culture of thefe plants. How^ pleafing i? 

 *he reflexion, that whilft we are providing greater plenty of food for 



the 



