94 DICKSON ON THE PROFITS OE 



it ; but in Flax growing the land will not do all it produces 

 the bulk, but skill and hand management give the quality ; 

 therefore, the cultivation of such a crop is certain to give 

 pleasure and profit, to a skilful and practical farmer, who will 

 give the plant the attention required. 



<( Having read with pleasure the letter following mine, in page 

 247 of the Gardener's Chronicle, and agreeing as I do with the 

 writer's views and with every syllable he makes use of 

 lespecting the neglected portion of Ireland ; and comparing 

 those parts with the northern province, which is attended to 

 by considerate landlords such men as the late and much 

 lamented Marquis of Downshire and knowing as I do the 

 good results from landowners in that quarter taking up the 

 subject of Flax cultivation, and interesting themselves in 

 everything calculated to benefit their tenantry, I must 

 borrow a few words from the letter alluded to, and ask how 

 it can be that the newspapers are daily filled with advertise- 

 ments of railway companies, joint-stock companies, and many 

 other uncertain speculations, patronised, as would appear 

 from the prospectuses, by noblemen and other landed 

 proprietors, yet not one company has started in this country 

 to grow or to encourage the growth of Flax, an article that 

 is consumed in such quantities, and is of such vast importance 

 to the landed interest ; and above all, so certain to leave a 

 profit for labour and money employed 1 I do not expect to 

 see the government starting model-farms in every county or 

 district in England ; but I say, if the landowners of Great 

 Britain will not be alive to their own interests, individual 

 capitalists had far better invest their money and try what 

 they can do to keep in this country the 10,000,000 or 

 12,000,000 sterling now paid away annually to foreigners 

 for Flax, oil-cake, and Flax seed. They will find a ready 

 market in Yorkshire and Lancashire for all the Flax they can 

 produce ; and they will find buyers for their seed and oil-cake 



