208 DICKSON ON THE PROFITS OF 



EXPENSE OF M ATE RIAL AND WAGES. 



One ton of straw 3 



Watering, grassing, lifting and carting 100 



Scutching 20 stones, at 2s. per stone 200 



600 



Nett profit on one ton of straw 2 15 

 When contrasting the best method of hand labour in 

 preparing Flax by which the highest price can be obtained, 

 with the easiest and cheapest mode of preparing it by 

 machinery only, and selling it in that state, the advantage 

 of the latter is so apparent that I will not allow the 

 mechanical (although it is the principal) part of my system 

 to stop the further development of my process; for, as in 

 many instances, it would be a sacrifice of property to sell 

 the fine Flax in the green state at 26, or even 36 per 

 ton ; it would Jbe no less a robbery on farmers to tie them 

 down to 3 per ton, when in reality they may produce fine 

 fibre, good value, for 4 per ton. But as no person can 

 judge of the quality in the straw, nor estimate its real 

 worth until the Flax undergoes such a course of preparation 

 as will discharge the green sap and the resin it has drawn 

 from the soil, there is little chance of the grower meeting 

 with the worth of his produce at all times, until the system 

 of finishing the preparation of the Flax plant becomes 

 generally known and having, in my opinion, arrived at 

 the most economical mode of preparing it, I confidently 

 submit the following statement : 

 305lbs. of long hackled* Flax fibre, fine quality 



and value for Is. per Ib 15 5 



210lbs. of very fine tow, equal to the finest 

 wool, and may be mixed with sheep's wool 

 previous to being spun, for lOd. per Ib 8 15 



Total 515lbs 23 



* Hackled Flax often sells from Is. 2d. up to Is, 8d. per Ib. 



