105 



PROFITS OF GROWING FLAX. 



The following statement was read at an Agricultural Market Din- 

 ner, at Market Hill, Armagh, on the \4^th December, 1843. 



Produce of three Statute Acres of Flax. — 100 stones at 1 55. — 

 75/. ; each stone calculated to produce 5^ lbs. of dressed flax 

 — in all 550 lbs. — spun to 30 hanks to the lb., will produce 

 16,500 hanks. About 158 females will be employed 12 months 

 in spinning, at the rate of two hanks per week (six working 

 days) ; wages for spinning each hank, about 1*. 8c?„ or nearly 

 7d. per diem for each spinner. This quantity of yarn would 

 make 210 webs of cambric pocket-handkerchiefs, each web con- 

 taining five dozen. About 18 weavers would be 12 months 

 weaving this quantity, allowing each man a month for each 

 web (17^ weavers exactly) ; wages per web 2Z. ; or from 9s. Qd. 

 to \0s. per man per week. About 40 females would be em- 

 ployed 1 2 months in needlework (hemstitch or veining) ; each 

 could do one handkerchief on each working day ; wages, 8s. per 

 dozen, or 8ff. per day. The goods, when finished, would be 

 worth 2.1, 10s. per doz. 



158 spinners 12 months, or 52 weeks, at about 3s. Ad. 



per week ^1,369 6 8 



18 weavers 12 months, at 24/. per annum 



40 needlewomen, 52 weeks, at 4s. each per week 



216 persons employed 



Amount of wages . • . 



Cost of flax . . . . 



Value of 1050 dozen handkerchiefs, at 21. lOs. per 

 dozen ....... 



Profit .... £354 13 4 



On saving of Flax Seed. From Irish Farmer and Gardener's 



Magazine. 



Mr. Wolstenholmc sowed, early in April last year, fifteen 

 Irish acres with Dutch seed of excellent quality, purchased 



