168 EFFECTS OF CLIMATE 
“T have paid much attention to the fibres during my residence near Calcutta, 
and, not wishing to conclude from hearsay only, generally cultivated most 
things myself, having a large piece of ground available. I sent up to Bau- 
gulpore (an excellent Flux seed district), and obtained a considerable 
quantity of native-grown Flax straw, after the removal of the seed. I had 
it collected from various fields, so as to obtain an average. This material 
was in every instance too bushy for the proper production of fibre, and the 
-yield was very trifling, and in fact worthless for manufacturing purposes. 
The bushiness arose from the practice of the natives, who grow several 
plants, as you are aware, at once, in the same field. The Flax plants were 
consequently planted too far apart for fibre-yielding purposes. 
Not yet fully satisfied on the question, I took a patch of land (three cottahs), 
the best I could pick out, fine, friable loam, fit for anything—it had been a 
cauliflower bed, and was therefore deeply spade-cultivated and highly 
manured—its last crop, cauliflowers, having nothing prejudicial to a Flax 
crop. I began very early in the season, had it turned up and laid for a 
fallow; two months after, again pulverized and weeded; and again— 
four times in all; with the addition of a large supply of fine old cow-dung. 
I had it now sown in the proper season, with the best Flax seed, very thickly 
planted, so as to draw it up as free as possible from lateral branches. 
Everything promised well. ‘The field grew beautifully, and soon attained a 
height of three feet. I began to collect the crop, first, as soon as the flower 
had completed its growth and the seed-vessels began to form; secondly, as soon 
as the seed-vessels had fully formed, and were filled with green, but immature 
seeds; and lastly, after the seed was fully ripe. I took great pains in water- 
retting the samples—generally removing them from the water rather under- 
done, for fear of occasioning weakness in the fibre from over-retting. 
In every instance, the quantity of fibre was small and weak, and very 
inferior to the samples of Flax deposited at the Agricultural Society’s 
Museum, obtained from Jubbulpore, and other upper-country districts. 
No Indian Flax, however, which I have seen, equals in nerve and general 
good qualities those of European growths.” 
As the above is no doubt a correct account of what occurs 
with the Flax plant in the moist climate of Bengal, of which 
the effects may perhaps have been aggravated by too great 
richness of soil; it might be inferred, that a different result 
would take place in the drier climate of the upper or North- 
West provinces of India. This is certainly the case, but though 
the product is different, it is not, from the shortness and brittle 
nature of the fibre, more suitable for the ordinary purposes 
of Flax. 
Mr. Hamilton, of Mirzapore, one of the up-country stations 
alluded to, “sent some bales of the stalks to Calcutta, for the 
inspection of the Belgians, and was told that the shortness of 
the stalks would prevent their manipulation.” 
It is evident, therefore, that there is some difficulty in pro- 
ducing good Flax in India. This difficulty is, no doubt, the 
climate ; while the native methods of culture are the most un- 
