THE FLAX SUPPLY ASSOCIATION. 207 



A most successful meeting was held in accordance with this invitation, 

 and the following resolutions unanimously agreed to : — 



1 . " That the formation of an association in Belfast for the purpose 

 of improving the quality of flax grown in Ulster, and extending the 

 cultivation of the crop elsewhere, is calculated to be productive of 

 much benefit, not only to the trade in general, but also to the agricul- 

 tural community." 



2. " That, for the promotion of the general aims of this association, it 

 should co-operate as much as possible with the landlords, agricultural 

 societies, and all organisations which have taken, or may hereinafter 

 take, practical steps for the extension and improvement of flax culture." 



3. " That, as one of the chief obstacles to the growth of flax has 

 hitherto been the difficulty of sale in outlying districts, the association 

 should take such steps as would enable the farmers in those districts to 

 dispose of their crop to the best advantage." 



4. " That, in order to facilitate the preparation of the flax for sale, 

 this association should afford such encouragement as might be in its 

 power for the erection of scutching machinery in new districts." 



5. " That, while encouraging the saving of home-grown seed (chiefly 

 for feeding purposes), the association should afford all possible assist- 

 ance to landlords and farmers in procuring a supply of the best descrip- 

 tion of foreign seed for sowing on the most favourable terms." 



6. " That the following gentlemen be requested to act as a committee 

 for the purpose of framing rules and regulations for the association, and 

 for further carrying out the object in view." (It is unnecessary to give 

 the names after such a lapse of time.) 



7. " That the committee be authorized to apply for subscriptions for 

 the carr^ang out of the objects of the association." 



These resolutions are sufficiently explicit to foreshadow the operations 

 contemplated by the gentlemen forming the association, but a statement 

 which appeared in the Belfast papers a short time previously was, no doubt, 

 in the hands of those who took part in the meeting ; it contained among 

 other statistics the following figures : — 



Relative acreage under flax to total acreage under crops in 1866 



and 1867. 



1866. 1867. 



In Ulster under flax, - 13-04 per cent. 12.69 P^r cent. 



In Munster „ - 0.32 „ 0.25 



In Leinster „ - 0.46 „ 0.51 „ 



In Connaught „ - 0.93 „ 1.03 „ 



From these figures it is manifest at a glance that there was ample scope 

 for extension. In Munster alone, with its area of 6,000,000 acres, there was 

 a million and a quarter acres under crops, and only 3,248 acres m flax ; the 

 area under flax could be increased here on a very liberal scale, and interfere 

 with no other interests. 



The question which naturally follows is, how to commence and carry out 

 successfully the proposed extension ? The first step decided upon was to 



