•^2 AGRICtnLTURAL MUSEUM 



roots. You need onl}-, after they are weeded by tiatitlj 

 to draw up tlie earth from tile centre round each plant. 

 Vast quantities may be obtained by a little additional 

 labour in keeping ihem clean, and the land will be left 

 in excellent order for succeeding crops. It is necessary 

 to observe, that the seme kh\:\s ou<>ht never to be plant- 

 ed twice together on the same land ; nor the same land 

 set with potatoes more than two years at the longest. 

 When laised from the seed, great varieties, and some 

 excellent new kinds, will be obtained. Balk Papas. 



>?>; >>>»^»««<««««^ 



LltERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL. 



The Rev. James Hall, has, for several months past, 

 been usefully engaged in experiments for procuring lla.^ 

 from broom. This is done by the following process : — 

 Steep the twigs, of the formcryear's braiiches, preferring 

 the most vigorous shoots, for two or three weeks, more 

 or less according to the heat of the season, in stagnant 

 water, or boil them for an hour, in water. This done, 

 the flax separates freely from the twigs; and where 

 there is not machinery for the purpose, it may be easily 

 stripped ofl' by children, or others, at any time, when not 

 quite dry ; as hemp is pulled from the stalks. What adds 

 to the value of this discover}^ is, that on being cleared of 

 the flax, and steeped for some time in boiling water, 

 the twigs, or wood, become tough and beautifully white, 

 and are worth, at a medium, from a shilling to eight 

 pence a pound, for making carpet brooms, &c. When 

 stripped from the twigs, the flax requires only to be well 

 washed in cold water, then wrung, and shaken well, 

 and hung out to dry, previously to its being sent off to 

 the paper manufacturers, &c. Professor Davy has 

 bleached some of it for Mr. Hall, who has also seen it 

 spun. The same gentleman also observes, that the 

 fibres of all kinds of mallows are particularly beautiful, 

 especially the malva sylvestris. They are finer than ca 

 mol's hair, which they somewhat resemble, and there is 

 no difficulty in »)rocunrg them. 



