APPENDIX 



97 



(Jisdra, Likhvin, Medyn, Mossalsk, Mechtchovsk districts), 

 Moscow (Volokolamsk district), Jaroslav, Vologda, Vladimir, 

 Kostroma, Nijni-Novgorod, Viatka and Perm. A good deal 

 of tow, as well as flax, comes from the five dew-retting districts 

 of Kashin, Kama, &c. 



Considering its importance, the Russian Government has 

 very rightly taken measures to promote the prosperity of the 

 industry. It has established experimental farms in the govern- 

 ments of Pskoff, Kostroma, Tver, and Viatka-. It propagates 

 the best brands of seed and gives instructions in the most 

 modern methods of flax culture. 



German spinners seem to believe that the Russian flax 

 trade will be a declining industry in future years, for they have 

 approached their government to assist financially in the direc- 

 tion of improved methods, as well as in a scheme for the 

 purchase of German-grown flax on foot from farmers. By 

 reason of the low price Russian flax commands, the peasants 

 can only make anything out of it by reason of their low 

 working expenses, owing to the unscientific and rough methods 

 of cultivation. Flax is grown at present in practically all the 

 Russian districts where the climate is favourable, without due 

 regard to manuring and rotation of crops, so that soil ex- 

 haustion will be the inevitable consequence. 



The Russian peasants bring their flax to market in the winter- 

 time, when the roads are covered with snow and in good order 

 for the sledges. Since the lots are rather irregular in quality, 

 classers, attached to the market, separate the various qualities 

 and put a price upon the lot. It is then sold to small agents, 

 often Russian Jews, who resell it to the export houses. In 

 this way it will be seen that the fibre passes through the hands 

 of several middlemen before the spinner gets it, its price being, 

 no doubt, considerably increased in consequence. 



Dishonest dealing in the way of mixing foreign substances 

 with the flax, watering it, and stuffing the heads with tow, 

 became so notorious that in 1899 the Russian Government 

 7 



