245 



which also appeared in the Farmers Journal. From Mr. 

 Hajncs I received a polite acknowledgment of his error re- 

 specting the use of the seed to fatten cattle, and the stalks to 

 obtain flax. Struck, however, with the extraordinary fecun- 

 dity of the plant, and supposing that it might be profitably 

 cultivated for other purposes, I determined to give it a fair 

 trial. Accordingly I had two plots of ground, separated 

 merely by the drill, sowed with the seed in question ; some of 

 which was taken from amongst my own flax, and some from 

 that of my neighbour, 



" When arrived at maturity, one sort proved to be the dwarf 

 Camelina, but was certainly not superior to the other in produce. 

 I inclose a sample for your inspection. Some time since, I, in 

 company with an eminent botanist, searched the Public Library 

 and the booksellers' shops at Norwich, for information. I have 

 now before me one of Mr. Haynes's printed circulars ; also all 

 the correspondence that appeared in the newspapers, with pri- 

 vate letters on the subject. Some of the seed has been substi- 

 tuted for linseed, and placed before two bullocks on my pre- 

 mises, which they totally reject. I have examined the stalks, 

 in which I cannot discover a particle of flax ; nor was there any 

 in those that I saw at the Royal Agricultural Society's Rooms, 

 Hanover-square, although they were represented as contain- 

 ing it. 



" You acknowledge that ' The Gold of Pleasure is an annual 

 plant that grows spontaneously over all Europe, and is culti- 

 vated in some countries for forage and manure ;" also, through 

 Messrs. Hind and Son, that it can be purchased at 865. per 

 quarter, which, at 56 lbs. per bushel, is less than a penny per 

 pound ; but I can obtain it at 32s. per quarter. 



'• Under all these circumstances, I cannot withdraw my state- 

 ments as to the price of the seed known by the name of ' Gold 

 of Pleasure,' its applicability to fatten cattle as a substitute 

 for linseed, or its superiority to the flax-plant. But I cordially 

 agree with you as to the productiveness of the seed, and the oil 

 for lamps, &c. The refuse, I consider, might be used with 

 advantage, instead of rape-cake for manure, but not as a sub- 

 stitute for linseed-cake. A moment's reflection will, I think, 

 convince you of this fact ; for rape-cake is never given to cattle. 



