1^ AGlliCULTURAL, iVlUSlilUlA 



Sible resource for their waits Feeble and helpless, irt- 

 dced must have been the colonists, before tl-.e revolution, 

 wiio imported handles from England, to fit to their 

 scythes and hoe.';. — AVas America so scarce of ^vood as 

 to be unable to furnish this humble requisite, or rather 

 was American skill, and industry, still more wanting ? 



The nation has at length awakened from its long and 

 dangerous slumber. It is becoming praise-worthy for a 

 man to clothe himself from the resources of his farm, and 

 the industry of his famdy. — Independence the price of 

 Patriots' labours, and Martyrs' blood, will bless our 

 land, while industry Avith h^r joyous train, hanpiness, and 

 content, shall hail the virtuous regeneration of our 

 country. The American citizen will no longer seek from 

 abroad those comforts which are now to be found at 

 home ; and the American Republic shall present to the 

 world the commanding spectacle of a nation — great with, 

 in itself— a people prosperous and happy in the enjoy- 

 ments derived from Domestic industry, and a Republic' 

 flourishing in the blessmgs of rational liberty. May wc 

 sleep no more. 



Extract from an Essay on the Culture and Manufacture 

 of Flax ; read before tne Culpeper Society, for the 

 promotion of Agriculture and Domestic Manufac- 

 ture — by John Strode, Esq. 



[Continued from Page 128.] 

 Flax appears to be better calculated, for the use of a 

 private family, than either Hemp or Cotton, and that foi^ 

 two very essential reasons. 



First. Because it comes sooner to maturity, and is ca* 

 sier cleaned, and rendered fit lor the wheel. For by 

 water-rotting of Flax immediately as ripe and pulled, I 

 have had it sptm and wove into cloth in the month of Ju 

 ly, that is, within four months after the seed was put in 

 the ground. This is no small consideration to the needy 

 or poor. For them, indeed it is, a great and speedy ve- 

 sourcti 



