204 DICKSON ON THE PROFITS OF 



rather say its importance is not fully estimated, even in the 

 districts where the operations of the cotton trade produce the 

 greatest amount of good. Every writer on the subject of 

 industrial employment in Ireland is able to tell of the advan- 

 tages that arise from the linen manufacture ; but it is very rare 

 to find the value of the cotton trade duly set forth by current 

 chroniclers. 



" The imports of Flax this year will reach about 56,000 

 tons, value at least for about two-and-a-half miUions. During 

 the present season farmers have received high rates for home- 

 grown Flax viz., s. 9d. to 8s. 6d. per stone for one descrip- 

 tion of scutched, and 7s. to 15s. for the other. These 

 rates would surely pay the cost of culture, and leave a large 

 margin of profit to the grower. Flax is one of those products 

 which the soil of Ireland can raise to great perfection. Several 

 of the more skilled growers have this year produced a class of 

 fibre valued at 140 per ton, and yet it would seem as if that 

 phase of agricultural enterprise were likely in some degree to 

 fall into the back ground. Our splendid fafctories are unable 

 to push on with the spinning of linen yarn, in consequence of 

 the dearth and scarcity of Flax ; and while such is the fact, 

 thousands of acres, throughout every province in Ireland, lie 

 in a state of semi-cultivation. 



*' The official accounts of this year cannot, of course, be had 

 for some weeks to come ; we may, however, estimate those of 

 Flax imports under last year, and the cotton account rather 

 above that of 1854." 



