196 CULTURE OF FLAX IN THE PUNJAB. 
It might be explained to the ryuts, that those who are not successful in 
growing Flax of the required length, will find a ready market; for the seed 
in Mooltan, whence it will be conveyed to Sindh for export to England. 
It is further strongly recommended, as a new feature in the proposed 
measures, for improving the cultivation of this important staple, that the 
Society be authorised to hire, on behalf of Government, from 80° to 40 
begahs of land, in the immediate vicinity of their garden, for the cultivation 
of Flax, during the coming season, so as to admit of a comparison being 
drawn between the Flax grown by the zumeendars and the plant reared 
under probably more favorable circumstances. The seed required for each 
begah, the purchase of which, it is hoped, the Government will also sanction, 
will be one maund and a half (at a cost of about Rs. 4), and the land is 
obtainable at Rs. 20 per begah; for which sum the cultivators undertake to 
pertorm all agricultural operations, such as ploughing, watering, weeding, 
sowing, and reaping, for one year—a plan by which the grower can ascertain 
the expenses of his crop to a rupee. It is strongly recommended to the 
Meeting that, in confident anticipation of the sanction of the authorities to 
this measure, which anticipation they venture to rest on the past liberality 
of Government, and the great importance of the subject, and also on account 
of the advanced state of the season, the Secretary be, at once, empowered 
to make arrangements for obtaining land. 
The vigorous proceedings of the Agri-Horticultural Society 
of the Punjab, and the ready patronage of the Government, 
including the purchase of the produce, ought to produce some 
decisive results, if the soil and climate are found to be favora- 
ble; and of this there can be little doubt, from Flax having 
been produced there last year, and from the description given 
of it by the members of the Hemp and Flax Committee of 
Calcutta. The specimens stated to have been forwarded to 
the India House have not been received. But while the best 
method of culture will be ascertained by the Society in their 
own cultivation, it is to be feared that the length of stem 
required (three feet six inches) will exclude much of what may 
be grown by the ryuts. The extension of the culture will no 
doubt reduce the price of the seed, and enable it to be sold at 
such rates as to allow of its becoming an article of export to 
Europe. 
The Society having included in these recommendations an 
application for some tons of the best Linseed (mentioning 
especially the Belgian) as well as some tools, to be sent them, 
this was approved of, and forwarded by the Indian Govern- 
ment, in August, 1854; but as it was obviously too late for 
any large quantity of seed to be sent in time for the sowings 
of this year, small quantities were sent out by the overland 
route for the sake of comparison with the native seed, and 
