271 



petent to teach others, and be the means of disseminating 

 information in the only effectual way ; for, though every pro- 

 cess is simple, and easy of attainment, written explanations 

 cannot obviate the necessity of practical illustration. 



The only expenses incurred will be for travelling and main- 

 tenance, which for each pupil cannot exceed lOZ. ; a sum insig- 

 nificant compared to the benefit derived : because 10/. maybe 

 either lost or saved in the preparation of only one acre of good 

 flax. This sum might be raised by agricultural societies, or by a 

 union of parties interested in the growth of the plant, at 6d. or 

 Is. a week each for the time proposed. I mention these particu- 

 lars in order to show by what simple means great objects may be 

 accomplished ; and 1 trust that the arrangement will be accept- 

 able to all my correspondents who can conveniently avail 

 themselves of it, or to others who may have been induced to 

 sow flax at my instigation. 



If the 1 rish, who have been growers of flax from time imme- 

 morial, found it desirable to form societies, and to introduce 

 Belgians to improve their system of management, how much 

 more necessary must it be for those districts to adopt similar 

 plans, where flax was never grown before. The finest crops, if 

 not properly handled, will fail to remunerate ; but if treated 

 according to the Belgian system, no farm produce, at the pre- 

 sent period, repays so well. For instance, since the publication 

 of the Report of the National Flax Association, Mr. Smith, of 

 Gunton, sold to the Messrs. Marshall, of Leeds, the produce of 

 two acres of flax, which, with the seed, amounted to 48Z. Mr. 

 Barchain, of Antingham, disposed of 60 stone of 141bs., and of 

 about 20 bushels of seed grown upon one acre. Many similarly 

 productive crops have been sold in Norfolk and Suffolk ; but 

 not being in possession of accurate returns, I cannot at present 

 record them. It is, however, worthy of observation, that the 

 price of the best Norfolk wheat is now only '22s. 6d. per coomb, 

 while that of sowing linseed is 40*. ; also, that barley is 

 selling at 13*'. 6c?., and crushing linseed at 305. ; all of native 

 growth. 



Whether the reader refer to the above facts, which admit of 

 no refutation, to our advancement in the arts of preparation, 

 to the ingenuity and efficacy of our machinery, or to the growing 



