No. 151.] 159 



valuable trees in the neighborhood of a populous city, or on a field 

 which has been a common range for men and beasts for a long time. 

 The ground is his own, and if the trees can be laised, he is sure of 

 benefitting himself and the country. Would it not be wise and right 

 in him to guard them with proper fences, to keep out the cattle and 

 prevent incursions from intruders'? Young oaks may be browsed 

 down by being left exposed, whilst your trees may stand alone, or 

 form a forest of themselves, needing no protection. Many of our in- 

 fant manufactures, particularly those of hemp, silk and linen, to say 

 nothing of ultimate protection, do certainly require the defence and 

 fostering care of our government now. 



In regard to hemp and flax, much consideration is due to the sa- 

 ving of transportation, which will give them tl\eir chief security. A 

 near market, or a near manufactory to convert them into less bulk, 

 are absolutely necessary to their being made a profitable grow-th. 

 Russia cannot compete with us in the raw material, when once we 

 get possession of the home market. This is true also of the flax 

 grow'ers in Europe, and already proved in regard to liemp and cotton 

 bagging in Western Ohio, Kentucky and Missouri. Cotton bagging 

 that was once costing our planters 40 cents per yard, can now be had 

 for about 10 cents. This article has been and is sufficiently protected 

 and the result is obvious. 



But it is not so yet with the manufacturers of sail duck, linen 

 goods, and many less bulky articles not secured against foreign in- 

 terference, by costly transportation or a suitable protection. These 

 are all worthy of early attention, and what healthier, more desirable, 

 or more universal occupations can be secured for our increasing free 

 population, than the raising and manufacturing of hemp, flax and 

 silk? 



There are at present in operation in this part of the country, 



2 hemp, and 1 flax factories in New-Jersey, 



2 flax factories in New- York, 



1 " " " Massachusetts, 



in which the aggregate capital invested is about five hundred thou- 

 sand dollars. They use of hemp, American dew-rotted, chiefly Ken- 

 tucky, annually, about one million pounds; of flax about three mill- 

 ions pounds, about half of which is imported. The number of hands 

 now employed in these factories may be, 



420 in flax mills, 



150 " hemp " 



