It. 



and unjust. Nor can ignorance of the Flax Society 'si 

 real designs be pleaded as an excuse : for the League 

 possessed reports and publications of its proceedings, in 

 which the desire to increase production and to amelio- 

 rate the condition of the poor was clearly defined. 



Under the improved management of flax, the price 

 must ultimately approximate to that of cotton, and 

 enable linen to compete with calico ; this would prove 

 more fatal to the manufacturers of the latter than agri- 

 cultural protection. Were the climate of England 

 genial to cotton, the spinner, unquestionably, would be 

 anxious to promote the home growth, regardless of those 

 injurious effects upon wheat, deteriorations of soil, and 

 prohibitions in leases, which he now advances against 

 the inestimable flax-plant ; but, if any grounds ever 

 existed for such objections, they have been rendered 

 obsolete by modern discoveries and by scientific im- 

 provements in agriculture. 



Another opposition arose from the scheme of substi- 

 tuting for flax the Camelina sativa, a plant pompously 

 called '* the Gold of Pleasure." The stalks were repre- 

 sented as containing superior flax, and the seed to be of 

 more value than linseed. Through circulars, adver- 

 tisements, and public letters, glowing descriptions were 

 promulgated : the project attracted much attention, and 

 obtained some converts. I sowed a little of the seed 

 myself by way of experiment : the result induced me to 

 warn the public against the delusion ; on which account 

 an action was commenced against me, but quickly with- 

 drawn for obvious reasons ; afterwards Mr. Taylor se- 

 cured a patent for extracting lamp-oil from the seed, for 

 which it appears to be well adapted. 



