PROFITS OF FLAX CULTIVATION. 87 



tion with a foreign grower, though almost entirely neglected 

 in this country; so important, in fact, that more is returned by 

 the seed alone, under proper management, than the Irish 

 farmer obtains for the entire crop. 9 He next goes on to say : 

 ' That the soil and climate of Ireland answers, the superiority 

 of the samples occasionally produced (in cases where a proper 

 course of management has been adopted) is a proof. To this 

 circumstance it is that we are indebted for the establishment 

 of the Flax Improvement Society, in one of the resolutions 

 of which we find it expressly declared that ignorance of a 

 proper system in the management of the Flax-crop in this 

 country is alone the cause of its inferiority to the produce of 

 the continent ; that this is now established beyond a doubt, 

 and that by the introduction of those right principles that are 

 wanting, our farmers may share the benefits at present pos- 

 sessed exclusively by the more skilful cultivators of France, 

 Belgium and Holland.' Now it will be recollected) I quoted 

 10s. per stone, or 4 per cwt. for good middle quality, and 

 Mr. S. condemned me for doing so. What, then, must those 

 who read his letter in answer to mine think now, when they 

 find that he had then a pamphlet for sale, dated at Dublin, 

 1844, which represents, in as strong terms as my letter, the 

 advantage of Flax culture, and that there is ' a splendid field 

 for exertion,' because of the difference between superior and 

 inferior quality, as the prices range from 37s. to 1 40s. per 

 cwt. It is evident, that according to his (Mr. S.'s) own 

 showing, my quotation of 4 per cwt. was not above the 

 middle price ; but he finishes his letter by declaring that mine 

 was erroneous, and that 15 per acre profit would be a high 

 average, and more than could be realised. I must, therefore, 

 quote another paragraph from his Essay. At page 29 he 

 says 4 The produce of Flax, even under the best system of 

 management, will of course vary according to the soil, season, 

 and many other particulars. In those parts of the continent 



