38 



pendent of the crops of other countries and climates for the daily 

 supply of that necessary article, corn, required for subsistence ; 

 and I think that, by the cultivation of flax, we shall also be 

 able to produce animal food for the market at a lower cost to 

 the consumers, and we may thus see the consumption of meat 

 introduced more into our cottages. That, I think, will, to a 

 great extent, increase the comforts of the population of this 

 country. Allow me to state another reason for promoting the 

 growth of flax — a reason which appears to me a good ground 

 for contributing to the support of this Society, and which induces 

 mo to hope that it will receive general encouragement : I mean 

 the object of providing increased employment for the popula- 

 tion. If we can promote the cultivation of any crop which 

 will at once remunerate the occupier of the soil and afford in- 

 creased employment for the population, that system should be 

 adopted, as being of the greatest advantage to this country. 

 For these reasons you must see with how much pleasure I 

 second the resolution. 



H. C. Partridge, E«q„ came forward and said, I have the 

 honour to move a resolution by permission of the Chairman, 

 but I will not trespass on your time by treating on matters 

 referred to by Mr. Warnes and by the other gentlemen who 

 have addressed you. All who had the pleasure of being at the 

 meeting at North Walsham, and those who have seen the spe- 

 cimens of flax exhibited this day, can have little, if any, doubt 

 that the soil and climate of this country are suitable for the 

 growth of that crop, or that it can be beneficially cultivated. 

 The crop is not only beneficial to the farmer as a crop by itself, 

 for you will see that it becomes, by proper cultivation, a most 

 valuable crop ; but in regard to the seed also, which has been 

 proved will be a good and ample means of fattening cattle, 

 and as affording a plentiful supply of manure for the land. 

 (Hear, hear). — The growth of flax should not only be regarded 

 for the value of the fibre and seed, but also as a means of bene- 

 fiting the land, for no one will doubt that the farmer will use 

 a plentiful supply of what he grows himself, and therefore the 

 landlords will not object to it. No one will put his hand into 

 his pocket for that which he can himself produce on his own 



