THE 
AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. 365 
22 —1846.] 
therefore, can accuse Mr. Warnes of having de- 
voted his energies to an unworthy cause: there was, 
and is a great deal to do: there was first, general 
attention to obtain, which is no easy matter amongst a 
dass whose inertia must be in proportion to the un- 
Yarying nature of the routine to which they are in 
Beneral wedded : there was then the general opinion as 
to the pro of the scheme to reverse, and in this we 
May safely say he and others who have Jaboured 
with him have generally succeeded ; and, lastly, 
there were the fears of the landlord to remove. 
The advocates of any comparatively limited object are 
apt to over-estimate its importance, and though evi- 
denees of this are traceable in Mr. Warnes’s work: 
as, for instance, if he speaks of the cultivation of Flax, 
his “theme, though simple, is vast, comprehending no- 
thing less than the complete deliverance from that 
ceumulated mass of pauperism which preys upon the 
Vitals of the nation”; or if he refers to his first attempt 
At its growth, it was “an insignificant commencement 5 
ut destined, like many similar dispensations of Provi- 
dence, to produce benefits to which no assignable limits 
Canbe placed.” Yettheimportaneeof thesubject may well 
Excuse these outbursts of enthusiasm. Its advocates 
have done much towards the attainment of the three ob- 
Jects we have referred to. They have pointed out how the 
Proper cultivation and management of this 
tion of its seed as cattle food on the land, 
Tenders it very far from a scourging crops and thus they 
ave overcome the landlord’s prejudice; they have 
Pointed ont the profits attainable, and that have be 
allaingq, from the Flax erop, when its produce 
een properly prepared and ** handled? for the market 
md thus excite the attention. of. the farmers; they 
how how the increase of the linen manufacture, whicl 
Would follow an increased growth of Flax, would be the 
Means of vastly increased employment for our labour- 
E Poor, and thus they enlist the sympat ries of the 
Patriotic and benevolent. 
Li 
4 Series of Letters on the Improved Mode of Culiiva- 
lion and Management of Flax, &c. Qe. By James 
. Dickson. R, Groombridge & Sons, Paternoster- 
T Tow, London. 
HIS is another work on Flax eulture— very practical 
—Very full of matter—and, what is of much importance, 
Very cheap. 1t contains, along with much hitherto un- 
Published matter, all the letters on this subject which 
Um Dick on has published in our own columns, and in 
th se of many provincial papers. We strongly advise 
Ose who wish to make themselves acquainted with 
D culture to obtain and read this little book. 
:2ealdes many views of great national and general 
n ed on the subject which it contains, its author 
E Ntered into full detail on the history of the plant, 
qus the selection of the seed through all the stages of 
S cultivation down to the harvesting of it, and the pre- 
Prauon of its produce for the manufacturer and the 
Sman, and thence through all the stages of its ma- 
Rufacture till it makes its appearance as linen goods 
In our shops. On all these subjects he speaks in great de- 
tail, and, what is of the greatest importance, from length- 
ened experienc Mr. Dickson has himself grown, 
bought and sold, and manufactured the article whose 
story and management he teaches; and on all the 
details of its cultivation and manufacture his instrue- 
lons may, therefore, be depended upon. 
aie an illustration of the nature of the volume, and 
A object of its writer, we shall make two extracts— the 
Me from the appendix, and the other from the preface. 
n the former Mr. Dickson makes a last appeal to his 
Teaders. 
5 utterly deny ; and I do $0 on two grounds :—1st, on 
le ground of my own experience, having grown as good 
ats after Flax as after Wheat or any other crop; 
ae 2d, on the ground of the known composition of the 
a I say ‘known,’ as Dr. Kane, in his masterly 
Ries on this subject, has given us, in full detail, all the 
d Ormation that could be wished for. The main point 
sha, Vieh we rest our assertion, that Flax is not neces- 
id d an exhauster of the soil, as far as its composition 
soil Struetive on this point, is this :—Exhaustion of the 
uade the word implies, is the removal out of it of 
$n i elements of vegetable food which it contain: and 
Blanes abundance of whieh its fertility consists. Now, 
all 4} 8 derive all their mineral portions from the soil— 
thei hose portions, in fact, of which, when they are burnt, 
5 ashes consist—and upon the quantity and quality 
RR their power of exhausting the soil depends. 
founa® the whole Flax plant, when harvested, Dr. Kane 
pari, it to contain 5 per cent. of ashes ; which, com- 
G ng it with other plants, is a large proportion : but 
"hn, "hole of the plant need not be carried off the farm. 
digg fact is, nothing but the Flax should be carried off 
Stee arm ; the seed should be consumed upon it; the 
ium Eater should be used as liquid manure—and 
thea etter ean be applied ; the bone, or stalk on which 
DOES grew, when separated from the Flax by the 
lasit ìon of breaking and scutching, should be burnt 
the au not rot for years as manure), and carried to 
mark ung-heap. The fibre is the only thing carried to 
lta and the point to be ascertained, by one who 
mind ates Flax as he ought, in order to make up his 
as to the exl ion of his farm quent on its 
| 
| 
SUM N | 
»p with | a wide circulation—in fact, that every farmer should | i 
| 
| 
| 
| 
cultivation, is the mineral matter car ied off in the fibre ; | self from the sample I send you. They were kept 
and this, on Dr. Kane's authority, and for the satisfaction | shaded from the sun as much as possible while being 
of all who wish to cultivate the erop, we proclaim to be | dug, and have been kept in a bin, in my vegetable 
most insignificant in quantity ; in fact, you may take a | cellar, out of the way of frost. The rot has been 
bundle of Flax fibre, and burn it, and it will leave no | prevalent in my neighbourhood, and of the erop in the 
ashes, Any further remarks would but weaken the | next field a large proportion has been lost.” 
influence of this fact, I appeal to my intelligent agri- | : 
cultural readers, if what l have said does not partly | 
meet any objections, on this score, he can bring forward. | 
What becomes, after this, of the antiquated and (can I | 
Calendar of Operations. E 
MA 
s season is the Turnip sowing. The 
n ore the middle of June, 
July. The land from which 
1i t, W ow be cleai 
ploug! y the harrow and roller, shoul 
work whenever suilicient land is cleared for it. 
e thi à 
help saying it !) most ignorant fear of landowners, as ex- 
hibited in the clauses of many leases, lest this erop be 
cultivated, and their land be ruined? I do hope that, | 
i re leases, indrance will be in the way of t. Eve 
in future leases, no h ndr REM He E s | land that is ploughed under the blazing sun of Jane must be 
a proper cultivation of the crop. lam sure that na and rolled the same day, or there will soon be plenty 
landowner ean do few greater favours than permit an | of work for the clod-crusher. 
intelligent tenant to grow this crop; which, being proved TS. e AUR this E 3 now have b 
un ds k P5 ento most for his | 22d burnt; the best way to reduce it, and at the 
non-injurious to the land, is eon: sequently most for his keep the ashes near the surface, is, first, to plough v 
own benefit, and that of his country. say 3 inches deep, then harrow, roll, and harrow, 
And in the preface to his book he asks — well m È ; then cro n ough 6 inches deep, which will bring 
Th aot pie, ndi s " up other three inches, and at the same time still | 
What has been my object in spending so much time | nly 3 inches from the surface. This sould be broken 
and labour in advocating the cultivation of Flax by | prought to a tilth, and the land may then be ri 
Eritish farmers? This question will doubtless occur to | sown to Swedish Turnips; the ashes will 
many of my readers. Certainly, the profit of publi 3 u 
has not been my motive—it will be nothing; for it 
being my earnest desire that this pamphlet should have 
The advantage of ridg 
or in rows on the flat, cons; 
se-hoe the land between the rows at 
yung plants’ growth. The earth on 
ace of burying th 1t runs 
and on 
ior 
possess a eopy—it has been published at a price barely 
sufficient to pay its expenses, Ineed not conceal my 
connection with the Flax trade. I have been engaged 
in it during the last 15 years, both as a merchant and 
manufacturer; but while I frankly own the benefit 
which would accrue to myself, by the more extended 
cultivation of this plant, yet 1 ean confidently assert 
that the main spring of my labours has been a thorough 
knowledge of the profits derivable from the growth of 
Flax, and a wish to see these profits enjoyed by my 
countrymen, instead of, as at present, by foreigner: 
English farmers do not know how profitable the Con- 
wers find their Flax-crop to be ; and e 
norance on this subject prevail, but = 
will now be fit to mow 
d be cut j fore it blossoms. Beans and 
Peas should be kept clean, and the ground between them 
stirred by a repeated use of the horse-hoe, ep shearing 
tot nt; 
great advantage. Jtaliam Rye 
for hay. It shoul at ju 
will have commenced in most places. 
Notices to Correspondents. 
Runa Cuemisrry, by Edward Solly.—The Second Edition 
ised and enlarged, is now ready, price 4s. 6d. 
v Poor PaAsruREs— 7' D—Apply 20 bushels per acre. 
yu may apply them now, although they will be too late to 
rave much influence on this year's crop. You might apply only 
12 bushels, and probab; tainly more imme- 
diate effect, you were t to dissolve them in half 
their weight of sulphuric acid, and then dry them up with 
ashes, 
IENS ON LAanp—Arvensis complains that in our last 
Number we noticed the Committee of the House of Lords ap- 
pointed to inquire iuto the “Burdens on Real Property," 
and then proceeded to name Lord Monteagle's report in the 
same paragraph, as if that noble Lord's essay was the report 
of the Committee in question ; and that we made some ex- 
of a statistical nature, with a concluding remark 
2 indicates the bias we take on the bearing of this ques- 
He thinks that, in candour, our readers should haye 
been informed that the report we noticed was the opinions of 
an individual member of tl Committee, in which no other 
im; or 
; are abroad ; and as it is my earnest 
the cause. L have endeavoured, in them, to show that 
the real interests of the farmer and landowner would 
be served by the extended cultivation of this plant. 
The one will find it to yield him greater returns than 
any of the grain crops he now grows and the other will 
benefit by the higher cultivation which such a crop re- tale £ 
EU Varro ES er eaa eint ev da dorem 1report itself as well as Lord Monteagle’ 
quires. I know from experience that, at the CXIBHDB| wad leti our readers to draw their own conclusions, when 
rices of farm produce, agriculture is at presentin most) both these documents were laid before them.— We were not 
hands a losing profession ; and this at a time when those | aware t laid ourselves aes to ae ee 
seted with it require the greatest encourag: D we were careful to mention that the 
connected with it require the greatest encour agement AY Tord Monteagie’s report, '«of which a 
to persevere in the expensive, though ultimately profi es are in private hands." If we have unintentionally 
able course of improvement on which many have now d any reader, we trust that the publication of the re- 
entered. Ishall be happy if my endeavours, to excite | marks by "Arvensis will put him right. But this is, we sub- 
E ded eultivati f the Flax plant should prove mit, of little real importance ; all that the publie can bein- 
an extended cultivation of the Flax plaht should prove | terested about is, whether the facts ere true; they woo 
successful ; for from it alone can profits proceed which e the Lords’ Committee, as we are sur 
will induce that perseverance to which I allude.” an 
In conclusion, and as illustrating the truth of these 
remarks, we make one further extract ; itis the last 
'e («A 
we think them of great importance to the 
consideration of the question. We are of opinion that their 
publication is the more necessary, because the Lords’ report 
omits them. We have not drawn, and we ot intend to 
sentence in the book draw, any conclusion whatever from them ; that is the affair 
CORIgGwHere capriculeunn ieties, and farmers’| of curreaders, Surely “ Arvensis ” cannot be in earnest in 
j A usn D GE iliural societies, and em Sh " print both the reports in question, amounting 
clubs, w ho now contribute one pound and upwards, wi to between 60 and 70 folio pages. If it were i 
be entitled to 20 copies and upwards, according to the} we would do so with pleasure; but the thing is clearly im- 
sum subscribed, at one shilling each, to distribute to 3 e “Arye a 
their tenants and members.? rn 
This rivals Mr. Knight, for the volume is octavo, and 
contains 248 pages. 
able faets indicates ake. 
that we have shown any bias except for the truth, 
and tha 1I considerati Y 
tin our eyes 
use can 
o 
quite sure that a sup- 
the last thing to which **Arvensis" would desire 
should be had. Had we published Lord Mont- 
igle's conclusions, instead of the facts elicited before the 
Committee, that would indeed have been shewing a bias. In 
conclusion, we will state at once, although that is really 
Miscellaneous. 
Potato Disease in America.—J. E. Teschemacher, 
Esq. of Boston, Massachusets, informs us, in the 
T beyond our province, that we do think that all interests, the 
AELA METAT vi Bartle Ja Jew 3 x province, that we do think that all interests, 
Morning Chronicle, that Levi Bartlett, of Wame, New| Tanded included, are burthened with peculiar imposts, which 
Hampshire, suffered much by the Potato rotin 1844.| should be better adjusted ; and if our rules would permit us, 
it does not 
In 1845 he manured as usual; eut out all the sound He should be ready to go into the argument. Butit A 
pieces he could piek from his Potatoes and planted et a regard everything as a burthen which de 
them. Having read X Tesehemacher's articles on | Crary x 
the causes and remedy for this disease, he made a mi 0 
| ture of equal parts of lime, salt, and ashes ; at the first 
hoeing, when the plants were a few inches high, he put 
a large ladle full of this mixture to each hill, and in-| fatm of, say we 
" * ^ r wit e gol shi is lie lent to 109 cow er annum. Its expences, including wages, 
corporated it thoroughly with. the soil, which is light e MH Bo paw eese Tes ital, will be about 10007, 
and stony, froma granite disintegration. He has not 2 n'per cow is equal to rather less A DIR 
had, until the present time (March, 1846) twenty rotten st will be greater in winter than in 
Potatoes in the whole crop. Most of his neighbours ay is costlier food than Grass. f 
: p. Most g r: nth Country Subsoriber—T lime with it is 
have lost the greater part of their Potatoes. Ho attri- Ammonia which it contains. You must dry it 
butes his escape to the mixture above applied. Matthew i m ith i 
Green, of Roxbury, in 1845, bought a quantity of| or by m Y Er 
J y» ] B q J A 5 
i ve off the ammonia. 
‘I would advi 
y chaff daily, with 2 bushels of 
Üb., is plenty of food for a cart- 
i hi 
Cow IN WINTER AND Summen—Inquirer—A 
acres, of Grass land, may keep stock equiva- 
e 
am 
calcined gypsum (Paris plaister) with it; 
Yixing dry tu m Either of these will absorb. 
damaged glauber salts, was advised to try them. His AC NEG sur M" 
account is as follows ;—** My Potatoes the ast y flesh or bullock’s liver, well boiled, to be giv ay, 
(1845) were planted the 24th of April, upon ground (a | from 1 Ib. to 14 Ibs., according to the size of the animal. 
little more than an acre) naturally wet and springy, Bon Mich LESS ADEL Lose 
i s dan cer rint ires meat has been pre sly boiled in may be given for break- 
which I had thoroughly drained the year previous—a ust; the dog must have a constant supply ed water; he 
good soil, but very full of small stones. The manure} ought not to be fed more than twice a-day.— Walthamstow. 
was taken from the barn-yard long and unrotted, and | Liquip M mue ae may apply it i! 4 
he forks "in Ite fotows "een | more usefully than in dry, provided always the land be not 
as by the fork in the furrows ; the sets were] foo wet for the porci EE S jd sape peris 
taken from good Potatoes cut in halves, and, after) void about 1000 lbs. weight of urine, containing about Ẹ of a 
being rolled in ground plaster, were dropped upon the Cab solid matter, or guano, which is worth between 5s. 
manure, two in each hill, and the hills were made ENIM eee 
s : Ss E MANURE FOR Grass LAND —Clerical Subseriber—Early spring 
apart each way. A sharp frost on the night of 24th | "$5 the best time to manure Grass land with half soluble 
of May eut all the tops down. On the 9thof June, at! fertilisers such as guano; but as you cannot now apply the 
the first hoeing, I applied a very large tablespoon-full| guano till after the hay harvest, you should either do it when. 
of glauber salts and air-slaked lime, mixed in equal a aotuebds SE EE DURS ie pice Ts 
E jM ^ 5 A n st fix in the guano those vola arts which, show J 
parts, to each plant ; and this was immediately covered a so fir» would probably be lost. In either case 
up with the hoe, The season will be long remembered R 
as a very dry one, and I obtained only 98 bushels from 
e horses’ 
nce a-i 
rican, or wt. of Peruvian guano, 
st by hand ; and in the latter, first water this 
of guano with about Ẹ ofa ewt. of common sulphuric 
acid, mix it well up, let it lie for a day or two, then mix it 
with an equal weight of dry turf ashes, and sow broadcast.” 
the piece ; but although the quantity was small, the 
quality was remarkably good, as you may satisfy your- 
