No. 12. 



Cultivation of Flax — Linseed Oil. 



371 



corn-stalks to prepare it for the root crop.* 

 The roots always well manured: spare ma- 

 nure or lime to be allowed the clover lay, as 

 an additional preparation fur wheat : lime 

 probably the best. On this system, I shall 

 reserve sufficient meadow for both horse-hay 

 and pasture, reducing tliereby the quantity 

 of arable, but gaining in the number, and I 

 think probable productiveness, of my crops. 

 Excuse this tedious epistle. 



S. 

 Chester co., June 19th, 1641. 



For the Farmers' Cabinet. 



Cultivation of Flax and the Manufacture 



of Linseed Oil. 



Mr. Editor, — The article on this subject 

 at the head of your number for April con- 

 tains food for the most serious reflection. It 

 is indeed next to insanity that we are so care- 

 less and indifferent as to increasing the cul- 

 tivation of the numerous articles uniformly 

 imported into this country, by wholesale, 

 which could be grown by us with the great- 

 est ease and to large profit — and at a time, 

 too, when our markets are glutted with corn 

 and grain and other articles, " which every 

 one cultivates," and while all are complain- 

 ing that prices do not pay expenses. 



Now, in the article of flax alone, could be 

 found ample resource for many of our wants; 

 the manufacture of oil from the seed, and 

 linen from the plant, would give employment 

 to thousands, and be the means of adding, in 

 a fourfold degree, to our means of subsistence. 

 We had need indeed to cultivate a greater 

 variety of crops ; and those which would 

 afford employment to our community in man- 

 ufacturing, ought to be preferred ; nor can I 

 think of any that is so likely to answer this 

 double purpose, as that of flax. 



Since writing the above, I have seen an 

 article on this subject in the Western Farm- 

 er, a very excellent paper, published at De- 

 troit, which gives the pleasing intelligence, 

 that the cultivation of flax has commenced 

 in Michigan, and an oil-mill has already been 

 erected in the village of Marshall, capable 

 of manufacturing 700 barrels of linseed oil, 

 per annum — that quantity being about requi- 

 site for the present supply of the state. There 

 are many excellent observations contained in 

 the account, some of which I wish you would 

 transplant into your pages, for the purpose 

 of jogging our memories in this section of 

 country, where an addition is needed to our 



* Our valued correspondent is referred to p. 73, of the 

 present volume of the Cabinet, for the drawing of a 

 machine that has been in use in Jersey for manv years 

 for removing corn from the fields. Will he turn to it ? 



Ed. 



present resources, as much as elsewhere ; 

 and none is seemingly so well adapted to our 

 wants; for the refuse of the crushing-mill 

 goes to make beef and mutton and muck — 

 all legitimate to the pursuits of the farmer. 



" The large quantity of linseed oil brought 

 into this state, would naturally suggest the 

 expediency of its home manufacture : the 

 general custom of erecting buildings of wood 

 requires a very large application of paint — 

 and were the supply raised amongst us, the 

 country would put on a now garb of thrift 

 and comfort, and we should be saved the re- 

 mittance of a large sum of money to the east, 

 for what we could as well supply at home. 

 And how can the labour of the farmer be 

 more wisely expended than in the cultivation 

 of flax ■? The greater the variety of staple 

 articles a state produces, the less will its bu- 

 siness and prosperity be affected by a com- 

 mercial revulsion or monetary pressure ; and 

 it would be well to have the industry of a 

 people so distributed, that some of the many 

 departments of its action will remain undis- 

 turbed and flourishing, amidst those changes 

 which always have characterised, and always 

 will characterise the business affairs of the 

 United States. Michigan has suffered se- 

 verely in the late depression of prices and 

 stagnation of business, because we depended 

 upon WHEAT so exclusively ; and that article, 

 by a long peace in Europe and plentiful har- 

 vests in both countries, has greatly depreci- 

 ated. About two years ago, the culture of 

 flax was commenced on a small scale; but 

 last fall, at least 3000 bushels of seed were 

 raised — and the chief inducement has been, 

 the disposition of it which the erection of a 

 mill enables the farmer to make; and the 

 crop is considered more profitable than wheat 

 or any other grain, at the prices they have 

 brought, or are likely to bring for a great 

 while to come. The oil-cake from this mill 

 is confessedly most valuable to the farmer, 

 and can be furnished plentifully, when his 

 interest is involved in the increase and im- 

 provement of his stock of cattle ; for, that 

 some counties of the state will soon become 

 noted as grazing-lands, is certain, and the 

 feeding of oil-cake is generally commended 

 for animals, destined either for the stall or 

 for the dairy, 



" Here, also, the castor-oil is manufactured 

 very pure, and in all respects of excellent 

 quality : preparations are making for a large 

 supply of the bean for crushing, and the 

 cheapness at which the pure oil can be afford- 

 ed, will recommend it as an item of import- 

 ance in all families. I regard our Oil-mill, 

 therefore, as an Institution of no ordinary 

 consequence, and mark its erection as an im- 

 portant event in the developement of the 

 resources of our state." P. B. C. 



