No. 129.] 351 



Experiments prove that the action of plaster is augmented by 

 the addition of a certain quantity of salt. Many results of the 

 experiments with salt are given. 



Gourmands testify to the excellent quality of the mutton fed 

 on salt meadow. 



Salt is essential to the health of cattle, &c. 



[From the Journal of Agriculture.] 



The Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland. March, 

 851. 



Flax Culture. — We have been sedulously laboring to extend 

 the culture of the flax plant to those poor and remote localities, 

 as the four or five millions (twenty- five millions of dollars,) of 

 pounds sterling, now annually paid to foreigners for the material, 

 if distributed at home, would, by creating feelings of self-re- 

 liance among the people, tend to show them that the natural re- 

 sources of the country are amply sufl3.cient, if fully developed, 

 to support her population. From the sowing of the seed to the 

 finishing of the woven fabric, all the operations of this branch 

 of industry are performed at home, affording employment alike 

 to ths farmer, the agricultural laborer, and the artisan : creating 

 an intelligent and enterprising middle class of manufacturers, 

 the want of which is much felt in other districts of Ireland ; 

 and by the export of the products, contributing to the employ- 

 ment of our mercantile navy, and affording an item of exchange 

 for the productions of foreign countries. 



The Belfast Flax Improvement Society say, " Flax should not 

 be grown on potato ground, but on stubble, which should 

 be ploughed deep in November and let lie over till spring, 

 then second ploughed, harrowed and prepared fine and clean, 

 and the seed (which should be Riga, when attainable,) sown 

 either in the last week in March or the first week in April." 



