XIV 



of the plant ably advocated by the local papers of that 

 town and neighbourhood. 



Upon my own premises, under the agency of Belgians 

 from the celebrated Courtrai district, several young 

 people have become expert hand-scutchers, and are 

 ready to go out as instructors; others are also being 

 taught to dress flax by machinery ; and, in fact, a com- 

 plete establishment is formed, such as ought to have 

 been under the management of local societies : but the 

 cold neglect of some, and the inconsiderate opposition of 

 others, compelled me to pursue an independent course. 

 It is therefore with inexpressible feelings of gratitude 

 towards an overruling Providence, that I find myself in 

 a position to employ a number of youths, from thirteen 

 years old and upwards, at wages varying from 5s. to 

 9*. per week, whose previous subsistence was extremely 

 precarious, and whose reformed habits evince the salu- 

 tary effect of constant work at adequate wages. 



It is impossible to portray the moral benefits con- 

 ferred wherever flax-culture is introduced ; particularly 

 upon that part of the population which, being deficient 

 in physical power, can obtain no permanent employ- 

 ment, and is a pest to society. Experience has proved 

 that, without occupation, it is in vain to expect the 

 reformation of the idle : upon this plea alone the Flax 

 Cause has a just claim upon the support of the British 

 public; and, when the plans described in this work are 

 taken into the account, it is evident that all who are 

 interested in, or dependent upon, agriculture, must 

 perceive the necessity of adopting them. 



Thus, by a combination of views and interests, the 

 cultivation of flax, the fattening of cattle with native 



