210 DICKSON ON THE WEIGHT OF PRODUCTION 



Journal, in 1848 : and the opinion of Mr. Mardock, Botanic 

 Garden, on the flowers sent for his inspection. 



11 1 am, Sir, &c., 



"J. H. DICKSON. 

 1 'British and Foreign Flax Works, 



" Grove Street, Deptford, June 4, 1853." 



Mr. Joseph Dodson, Flax broker, Jeffrey Square, London, 

 valued Lord Lovaine's green Flax-fibre at 26 per ton. His 

 lordship had it sent to Messrs. Plummers, Flax spinners, 

 Newcastle-on-Tyne, and they valued it at 25 per ton, and 

 if steeped, valued it at 60 per ton ; Messrs. Gifford and Son, 

 Mark Lane, valued it at 30 per ton ; and Mr. Scott, Flax 

 broker, Trinity Square, Tower Hill, valued it at from 28 to 

 30 per ton. It is therefore evident that, if farmers pre- 

 pared their Flax with my machines, and sold it at from 28 

 to 30 per ton, it would pay them better than if they got 

 60 per ton by the old system of retting in water only ; or if 

 they sold the straw at 4 per ton, or 10 per acre, it would 

 pay them better than any other crop. 



After having had some dozens of gentlemen at my factory 

 to witness the working of the machines, including merchants 

 from London, and from firms interested and engaged in the 

 Flax-trade, amongst whom were Messrs. Elster and Co., 

 Flax agents for the sale of Russian Flax ; Messrs. Cassivatti, 

 Brothers, agents for Egyptian Flax ; Messrs. Azzoni and Co., 

 agents for Italian Hemp and Flax, I was honoured with 

 notice from the Eight Hon. Lord Lovaine, M.P., saying he 

 wished to be present at the working of my machines. In 

 consequence I sent off invitations to several members of 

 parliament and other gentlemen who took an interest in my 

 labours, and amongst those who favoured me with their 

 presence was Mr. Lee, the editor of Bell's Messenger, who 

 very attentively watched the operations, and gave a full 

 account of what he witnessed: during the several hours the 



