206 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



In the same author's directions for July, he 



says, 



" Now pluck up thy flax, for thy maidens to spin, 

 First see it dried, and timely got in." 



Flax has for many ages employed and en- 

 riched the French nation. Their city of 

 Cambray first manufactured that beautiful 

 linen called from thence Cambric, for pur- 

 chase of which, England for many years con- 

 tributed not less than 200,000/. per annum. 



In the reign of George the Second several 

 salutary laws were enacted to prevent this 

 great loss of our wealth; and an Act passed 

 in the 4th of George the Third, c. 26, to regu- 

 late the cambric manufactory, not long be- 

 fore introduced into Winchelsea in Sussex, 

 but which soon failed, and was abolished. 

 Laws have been made to prevent the selling 

 and wearing of French cambrics and lawns 

 in England, but which have only established 

 their fame as being superior to our own. 



The fine fibres of this plant have also af- 

 forded the French, as well as the Flemings, 

 a valuable article for commerce in their lace 

 of Brussels, Valenciennes, Lisle, Mechlin, 

 Normandy, &c. Our legislators have laid 

 heavy fines and duties to prevent the impor- 

 tation of this article of luxury, but with 



