I 



79 



which is the best ground for flax. If the culture of this plant 

 were extended as far as the other operations of the farmer 

 would allow ; or if the ground, when tilled, were let to the 

 poor, or to persons who, as in Holland, would make it their 

 sole business to attend to it, it would prove an immense benefit 

 to the county, and furnish employment to the poor, especially 

 to the female part of them, in every stage of its manufacture.* 

 When the crop is tolerably good, the produce of a single acre 

 may be estimated at 15Z. on the field, at 20/, when it comes 

 from the mill, at 60Z. when spun into yarn, and at more than 

 100/. when wrought into cloth and bleached. 



The attention of the I'armer, and the industry of the poor, 

 should therefore be directed, as much as possible, to a matter 

 of so great and general importance. When this shall be the 

 case, the minds of some of our landowners, who now depopulate 

 their estates, will be more enlightened ; and they will perceive 

 that the riches or productiveness of their estates must depend 

 more on the number of the people, than of the sheep, by which 

 they are occupied. It is certain that neither pasturing, nor 

 agriculture alone, can make any country so rich and prosper- 

 ous by themselves as when they are conjoined with manufac- 

 ture and with commerce. But these cannot be carried on in 

 any place which does not abound with people. 



As the culture of flax is not yet well understood by the 

 greatest number of those who raise it in this county, it may be 

 proper to give a few directions on the subject. Choice must 

 then be made of suitable ground for it. A deep sandy loam, 

 in good heart, clean and well pulverized, is the best. It an- 

 swers well on rich ley ground, as it will be free from weeds ; or 

 after potatoes, or other cleansing crop. 



The seed should be sown when the ground is neither too wet 

 nor too dry, and harrowed in, like clover, with a short-teethed 

 harrow, after the ground has been first broken and smoothed 

 by another harrow. This will prevent any of the seed from 

 going too deep, and make it come up equally. It is better to 

 sow rather thick than thin ; for if too thin it will branch, and 



* In the higher parts of Perthshire, adjoining to this county, the ordinary 

 fanners commonly pay all their rent by the sales of linen yam. 



