APRIL.] FLAX, 223 



performed, but as n mere aid to the memory to 

 have the several works in mind, so that it" a ma- 

 nager should happen to be careless, the master 

 may be attentive to what ought to be going on. 

 Thus, in poling there are several points which de- 

 mand consideration, such as the quality of the soil, 

 and the degree in which the last crop weakened 

 the exuberance of the plants. If overpoled one 

 year they are weakened, and must be underpoled 

 the next. The time of picking, whether late or 

 early, has also an influence. These are points 

 which must be learnt by practice, and not by occa- 

 sional observation, and they are named here, merely 

 to call to them the attention of the young planter. 

 The number of poles per hill vary from three to 

 five. Their sort, size, length, and position, when 

 set, are all of consequence. 



FLAX. 



Flax may yet be sown. The beginning of this 

 month will do, though not so well as before. 



The soil for flax should be a loam, rendered fine 

 by tilth, and situated in a valley bordering upori 

 water ; or such a soil as is thrown up by rivers. 

 If there be water at a small depth from the surface 

 of the ground, it is thought to be still better ; 

 as is the case in Zealand, which is remarkably 

 famous for its flax, and where the soil is deep, 

 with water almost every where at the depth of a 

 foot and a half, or two feet underneath it. It is 

 said to be owing to the want of this advantage, 



that 



