62 



" In a paper formerly presented to the Board of Agriculture, 

 and which is now published in the report of their committee on 

 the subject of potatoes, notice is taken of the ease with which 

 that valuable root may be cultivated on waste and unim- 

 proved soils, and the advantages that may arise from the 

 practice pointed out. Perhaps the attainment of that important 

 national object, the cultivation of waste lands, will be more 

 promoted by the general introduction of flax, or potatoes as 

 first crops, than by any other means; neither of them require 

 any expense except seed and tillage ; they increase the ma- 

 terials for several valuable manufactures, furnish a wholesome 

 and nutritious article of food, afford a profitable return to the 

 cultivator, and give employment to many hands. 



" To those who are judges of the real interests of their country, 

 the importance of what is above mentioned will be evident, 

 even if the cultivation of flax were confined merely to supply- 

 ing ourselves; but perhaps the matter ought to be carried 

 further^ and Britain might soon be able to rival Holland, &c., 

 in supplying other nations. The soil of this country is at least 

 equally fertile, and the climate as genial as that of Holland or 

 the provinces on the shores of the Baltic ; why then should the 

 crops of flax raised here be more scanty, or the quality inferior 

 to what is produced in those parts ? The only thing wanting 

 seems to be a knowledge of the method of managing the crops, 

 in which the Eritish, notwithstanding every attempt to the 

 contrary, are still extremely defective. 



" The quantity of flax raised in Britain is not only small, but 

 the seed from which even that small quantity is raised is annually 

 imported either from Holland or the Baltic, from an absurd 

 and erroneous opinion that after seed has been once sown in 

 this country the produce is unfit for that purpose afterwards. 

 How such an idea came to be entertained at first it is difficult 

 to imagine. Britain is well known to be famous for the growth 

 of grain and other vegetables ; why then should it be incapable 

 of producing flax, an article that thrives at great perfection in 

 Holland and elsewhere, upon worse soils, and in n.uch more 

 inhospitable climates ? Were it a matter of which any doubt 

 could be entertained, the subject is sufficiently important to 

 entitle it to a complete investigation. To thos?, however, who 



