SPINNING OF FLAX. 69 



calculating farmer will see HOW IT is that fine shirting linens 

 have been so exhorbitant in price up to 1834, when Flax 

 culture began to be spread over the northern province of Ire- 

 land, and when our English spinners were entirely depending 

 on the French, Belgian, Dutch, and Russian farmers for the 

 raw material, and therefore paying prices for the article that 

 our farmers would scarcely credit. I have seen Flax in 1834 

 at 150, 160, and up to 180 per ton, and I have paid 18s. 

 per bundle of sixteen hanks and eight cuts, for the yarns spun 

 from ONE POUND AND A QUARTER OF SUCH FLAX. Now, as 

 from one pound and a quarter of that Flax which cost 3s, lid., 

 the spinner could produce his bundle of yarns and obtain 18s., 

 should not our farmers be thankful to be made aware of the 

 advantage they may derive in producing from their farms so 

 valuable an article ? Certainly the prices of yarn are now 

 much reduced by spinners, and Flax has come down in price ; 

 but I maintain that fine Flax will always command a ready 

 sale and a good price. 



Having now placed before my readers facts sufficient to 

 convince them that they are certain to be paid for any extra 

 care and attention bestowed on the cultivation of this plant, I 

 shall conclude this part of my observations by giving parti- 

 culars of the present expenses of manufacturing the article 

 (when spun) into linen shirtings, linen-drills, etc., articles 

 that our labouring population should wear in preference to 

 cotton, as linen-drill (formerly called Russian duck") makes ex- 

 cellent trouser stuff and working jackets, which are very cheap 

 and will wear for a considerable time, and no dress can be 

 better adapted for spring, summer, and harvest wear. 



I shall first give the description and quantity of yarns used 

 for making linen-drills, with the expenses of manufacturing ; 

 for example : 



