298 



France, Italy, Turkey, Gibraltar, Egypt, and Guernsey — that is to 

 say, in 



YEARS. TONS. 



1840 . . . . . 62,662 



1841 ..... 67,368 



1842 ..... 55,113 



1843 . . . . . 62,662 



Remembering also that between five and six millions were, each year, 

 expended with foreigners for the raw material, which we, this day, give 

 you ocular proof can be grown and prepared at home. 



Management during the past Year. 



In order to obtain the most accurate information respecting the 

 treatment of the soil for receiving the seed, and the various processes 

 for securing the crop, and for the preparation of the stalks, Mr. Brown, 

 an experienced flax-grower of Norfolk, was engaged by the Ipswich 

 Branch to afford practical instruction in the sowing department ; Mon- 

 sieur Francis, from Belgium, in that of harvesting the crop, and of 

 preparing the fibre ; and Hugh Elliot, from Ireland, as a general 

 working assistant ; the result of whose services is placed before you 

 this day, as an earnest of future prospects ; for if so much can be pro- 

 duced from an unfavourable season, greater benefits must arise from 

 seasons more congenial. 



The management of the soil and treatment of the crop in Norfolk 

 being now generally understood, as the specimens upon the table bear 

 ample testimony, one assistant only, Robert Twining, from Ireland, 

 was engaged by the branches in that county. Several hundreds of men, 

 women, and children, were employed during the busy seasons for 

 managing the flax stalks ; many of whom, through the above-named 

 instructors, are in some degree able to become teachers themselves in 

 the various processes connected with pulling, stooking, tying, stacking, 

 thrashing, dressing, steeping, grassing, sorting, breaking, scutching, 

 scraping, &c. &c. And here the attention of the philanthropist is 

 directed to the fact, that, of the persons so employed, by far the major 

 part consisted of the weaker hands ; and that some hundreds of pounds 

 were circulated amongst such persons as would otherwise have earned 

 nothing. 



Saving the Seed. 



Those prejudices so long entertained in favour of steeping flax with 

 the bolls, your Committee have the satisfaction of proving, by the 

 numerous specimens produced this day, were founded upon" ignorance 

 of the proper management of the plant ; an opinion which is confirmed 



