TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 187 
The application of the power-loom to the weaving of linens has of late years been 
considerably on the increase, but to a much less extent than in the cotton and wor- 
sted manufactures, as the greater part of the linens made in the United Kingdom 
are still woven by hand labour. 
I have thought it necessary to give this account of the nature of the successive im- 
provements introduced into flax spinning, in order to make the statistical figures I 
shall now quote more intelligible. 
The sources from whence the statistics of the lineu and flax spinning trades may 
be derived are somewhat scanty, but, perhaps, enough may be stated to indicate the 
progress of the manufacture, 
Imports of Flax into the United Kingdom. 
Average of 5 Years. Tons. | Average of 5 Years. Tons. 
1820 to 1824 ....... 27,875 / 1845 to 1849 ...... 68,879 
1825 ,, 1829 ....... 44,491 1850 5; 1@aeheneee 76,254 
1830 ,, 1834 ....... 48,044 Year 1855/0 38.205 64,672 
1835 ,, 1839 ....... 61,213 33 1850" Sova 84,352 
1840 ,, 1844 ....... 67,718 
Previous to 1820 the import of flax had increased but slowly, but from that time 
we see that the increase has been rapid, having more than trebled between that date 
and 1856—or from 27,875 to 84,352. We must add to this the home growth, which 
is, for Ireland about 22,000 tons yearly, on the average of the last ten years; for Eng- 
land and Scotland a small quantity, probably not exceeding 600 or 700 tons. 
On the whole the annual consumption of flax in the United Kingdom will be about 
100,000 tons, which, at an average price of £59, will make the yearly value of the raw 
material of the linen manufactures about £5,000,000. 
From a Parliamentary Return we obtain the following particulars respecting the 
flax spinning of the United Kingdom. 
Flax Spinning, 1850. 
1850 Facto- Sriadion Power Horse 
F ries P . Looms. Power. 
England and Wales ........ 135 365,568 1083 4487 19,001 
PPC Caverteccsvescssecreseocs 189 303,125 2529 6425 28,312 
Treland .........+.+.0 eouaces bo 69 326,008 58 3380 21,121 
393 994,701 3670 14,292 68,434 
1856. 
England and Wales..........) 139 441,759 1987 4644 19,787 
DEERE) cas c0.0 cs sees execs cae 168 278,304 5011 6346 31,722 
Treland ............. ivedeedeuevel kG 567,980 1871 7332 28,753 
417 |1,288,043 8869 18,322 80,262 
1856. 
WNMPRISEIEWEE 2 occ. coraecccccesss 
Spinning only..... ree, CE 37 149,201 
Spinning and Weaving..... 9 65,346 411 
46 214,547 411 
1858, 
SCY: | Aenea ee ee deenegnesens 11 160,300 510 
Here we see that the increase has been much the most rapid in Ireland, and that 
in Scotland there was during this period a small diminution. There are several cir- 
