No. 149.] 431 



found in the fact of the present diminished supply of the raw 

 material from foreign countries. " There is," says Mr. Porter, 

 in his remarks on the statistics of the cotton trade, in a paper 

 read before the British Association last year, " a growing opinion 

 that now, and for some years past, we have reached the maximum 

 supply of cotton from the United States — a fact which, should it 

 prove to be correct, makes it a matter of absolute necessity, either 

 to seek for further supplies of the article from other sources, or 

 to find some efficient substitute that shall provide the means of 

 employment for our continually growing numbers." So great has 

 been the deficiency of cotton in the United States during the past 

 year, that the prices have risen cent, per cent, as compared with 

 those of 1849, and our manufacturers are straining every nerve 

 to endeavor to obtain an additional supply of cotton, and to re- 

 duce their dependence upon the United States for a supply of 

 their staple article. The Manchester Chamber of Commerce, 

 feeling the importance of the subject, have, at a considerable ex- 

 pense, sent a gentleman to India for the purpose of obtaining in- 

 formation as to the probable extent to which they might depend 

 upon that country for an increased supply of cotton. But to 

 realize this much desired benefit there must be introduced into 

 India a totally new system of managing this crop, and new and 

 convenient modes of transit for bringing the produce of the 

 interior down to the coast for shipment. Those acquainted with 

 the habits and prejudices of the people of that country need hardly 

 to be told with what difficulty such a change would be brought 

 about, and how many years must elapse before the establishment 

 of railways, or the formation of roads for the conveyance of 

 the material produced under such an altered system. So far, 

 then, as the arguments for an extended growth of flax in this 

 country, founded upon the present position of our cotton manu- 

 facturers, are concerned, our agricultuiists have to consider the 

 diminished supply and increased price of cotton ; the diflUculty 

 of obtaining the requisite supplies from other countries ; and, 

 above all, the fact that flax can be advantageously employed as a 

 substitute in those manufactures in which cotton is required. 



Deficiency of Flax. — If we again trust to the position of 

 our linen manufactures, it will be found that there exists in 

 that branch also a most extraordinary deficiency in the supply of 



