442 [Assembly 



cotton crop for a supply of the raw material, and a more regular 

 employment will be given to the manufacturing population, and 

 the present amount of local rates be greatly dimiuislied thereby. 



9. That the British grower will derive great benefit from a 

 supply of the wide demand thus opened to him. 



10. That with respect to the advantages of being able to spin 

 flax in combination with wool on the existing wool machinery, 

 the first is, that the flax prepared by M. Claussen is capable of 

 being scribbed, spun, woven, and milled, in all respects as if it 

 were entirely wool ; having an advantage in this respect over 

 cotton, which has not the slightest milling properties ; on the 

 contrary, the flax fibre is capable of being even made into com- 

 mon felt hats wath or without the admixture of wool. To such 

 an extent has the milling properties of Flax been proved, that 

 the sample of cloth exhibited had been woven to 54 inches wide, 

 and milled up to 28 inches wide. 



1 1 . That the flax fibre will not, under any circumstances, 

 when prepared for spinning with wool, cost more than from 6d. 

 to 8d. per lb., while the wool with which it may be mixed will 

 cost from 2s. to 4s. per lb.; consequently reducing the price of 

 cloth produced from this mixture 25 or 30 per cent, below the 

 present prices of cloth made wholly from wool, and being of 

 equal, if not greater durability. 



12. That short-wool refuse, which cannot by itself be spun 

 into a thread, by being mixed with tliis thread, can be rapidly 

 spun and manufactured into serviceable cloths. 



13. That there is a probability of a further demand being 

 opened up for this fibre in the flannel and woolen trade. 



14. That by tliis process flax may be also so prepared as to 

 be spun in any certain proportions with silk upon the existing 

 silk machinery; that when so spun, it is capable of receiving 

 considerable brilliancy of tint. That the fibre may be prepared 

 for thus spinning at an uniform price of from 6d. to Sd. per lb. 

 That as it may be spun in any proportions with silk, it is evident 

 that the price of the yarns must be reduced according to the 



