42 MONTHLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE. 



into any part of the cistern by boring a hole through the cement after it is thor- 

 oughly hardened. 



The cost here is, for one of 40 bbls $25 I The cost here is, for one of 75 bbls $40 



50 35 I .. .. 100 50 



This includes digging and materials. 



The one you saw here was, say, 7 feet in depth, 6 feet diameter, and will hold 

 75 bbls. ; it answers, in every respect, the purpose for which it is intended. It 

 is covered with, say, 3 feet of dirt to protect it from frost, and loads of hay 

 weighing a ton have passed over it this winter without causing it any injury. 

 For dwelling-houses in the country about here, they have completely driven out 

 of use the old-fashioned wooden cisterns. For convenience and additional pro- 

 tection against frost, they are generally built under the kitchen. 



At the South, where they are not troubled with frost, there cannot be an ob- 

 jection to them. The person who built mine said he thought of going to Loui- 

 siana for that purpose next Avinter. 



If in my power to obtain any farther information of this or any other matter 

 in this neighborhood, please command the services of 



Yours, truly, DANIEL BUCK, Jun. 



CULTIVATION OF FLAX. 



Sir : From the interest you take at all times in matters relating to Agriculture, I am 

 induced to lay before you the result of an experiment in the cultivation of Flax ou my father's 

 fann, (the produce of which has just been sold by Mr. Schwann, agent for the sale of flax, 

 Leeds,) with the hope that it may, in some degree, remove existing prejudices against the 

 cultivation of this invaluable plant, as it not only supplies the farmer with an excellent ingre- 

 dient for the pui-poses oi" feeding cattle, but also atfords good and profitable employment 

 to the rural population, which, it must be admitted by all, is much wanted at tliis season of 

 the year. 



It is by many considered an exhausting and unprofitable crop ; the former is a mere idle 

 notion ; experience will teach that it vieliorates rather than exhausts the soil (and it may not 

 be out of place here to mention that this season, after a crop of flax, 1a. Or. 1p. planted 

 mangel-win-zel, produced, clean and free from tops, 43 tons 15 cwt.) With regai'd to the 

 latter, I shall rei'er you to the following statement : 



(Growth of 1845 on 4a. 1r. 24p.) S, s. d. 



1,.349 lbs. flax sold in Leeds for (after 



deducting all expenses) 25 10 6 



106 lbs. of do. sold inEnsham 2 13 



372 lbs. of tow, do 4 13 



104 bushels of linseed, at 7s. Gd 39 



Small quantity of tail linseed, chatf and 



refuse from scutching 1 10 



Value of crop 73 6 6 



Deduct expenses 40 15 3 



Net profit £32 11 3 



EXPENSES. £, 8. d. 



Plowing 4a. IR. 24p. at lOf? 2 40 



lOi bushels lin.seed, at 7s. 6d 3 18 9 



Sowing and harrowing do 10 



Weeding 4 2 



Pulling and tying up the stalks, thresh- 

 ing, spreading, turning and preparing 



for scutching, 30s. per acre 6 12 



Expenses of carting, stacking iu barn, 



&c 1 15 



Rent and taxes, 50s. per acre 11 



Scutching 1,455 lbs. of flax, at 2d. 



per lb 12 2 6 



Do. 372 lbs. tow, at Id. per lb 1 11 



Total expenses 40 15 3 



It will be seen from the above statement that the co.st of preparing the fibre for market is 

 very great in comparison to its value, and I was induced from this serious item in the ex- 

 penses to write to Mr. Waraes, of Trimingliam, Norfolk, (to whom I am indebted for much 

 useful infonnation on the subject;) in answer to which he says, " The cost of dressing your 

 flax is excessive, the quantity of tow and consequent waste immense." I think, therefore, 

 under these circumstances, and with the above result, the cidtivation of flax is deserving of 

 some consideration. 



My only object iu troublmg you with this subject is the improvement of Agriculture. 



I remain. Sir, yours veiy respectfully, SAMUEL DRUCE, Jun. 



Ensham, Jan. 27, 1847. [Oxford (Eng.) Journal. 



J^P" A drop or two of honey well rubbed on the bands while wet, after washing with 

 soap, prevents chapping, and removes the rouglmess of the skin ; it is particularly pleasant 

 for children's hands and faces in cold weather. 

 (90) 



