282 : CONCLUSION—ON FLAX CULTURE, 
its products, as well as of steep-water, and the various methods 
which are now adopted for separating this fibre, cannot 
fail to suggest to cultivators in the East some methods of 
improving their own practice. Having already made some 
observations (v. p. 185) on the results of their experiments, 
we need now only observe that the chief want, seems to have 
been that of moisture during the season of cultivation. 
Therefore, we cannot but think, that when this deficiency is 
supplied, either by canal irrigation, or by the nature of the 
climate, as in the present experiments (v. pp. 188—195), that 
success will attend the efforts, and that the example will be 
useful to other districts. Considering the prices at which Indian- 
grown Flax formerly sold for in England, and the cost of 
growing such fibres as Jute and Sunn, -which have long been 
sold at from £15 to £20, it appears quite possible to grow 
Flax as a profitable crop, especially as it is said that in some 
situations even the seed pays for the expenses of cultivation. 
But in case the fibre should not be good enough as Flax, some 
would be available as tow, and some for paper-makers, 
especially if reduced to the state of half-stuff by the use of the 
Indian dhenkee. The extra labour required for the preparation 
of the fibre can certainly be supplied as cheaply and as profita- 
bly in India as in any other country of the world. But if any 
difficulty is experienced, it would be easy for planters to induce 
native cultivators to grow the Flax in any particular manner 
and to sell it at certain rates, as they now do the Indigo 
plant. This the European now manufactures into Indigo 
of such excellent quality, as to hold the first place in all 
markets. Much of the same success might attend the culture 
of Flax if the climate were equally suitable; but it is yet 
sufficiently favorable in many parts to admit of at least as 
much success as has been attained in Egypt. It is only 
requisite that Rettories according to some one of the improved 
methods should be established in a few central situations, to 
which the ryuts could bring the results of their cheap agricul- 
tural labours, and where a due subdivision of labour and 
manufacturing cheapness could be substituted for a mixed 
system, suited only to early states of society. 
