PART I. 



Instructions on the Cultivation of Flax, commencing with description of Soil 

 test suited to produce it— Profits realized by growing fine quality— Chemical 

 Manure for its growth on land not considered in proper condition, prepared by 

 scientific mew— Mode of preparing all kinds of soil for Flax culture — Deep 

 Draining proved Indispensable— Rotation of Cropping so as to have Flax only 

 once in ten years in the same soil — Seed directions as to choice — Sowing direc- 

 tions as to time — Necessity of Weeding explained — Harvesting or Pulling the 

 Crop fully entered into, and directions on the most improved method of taking 

 off the Seed by Dickson's Patent Machine, and mode of saving it — Watering, 

 commonly called Retting, on the best system practised in Ireland — The Belgium 

 system of Steeping in a running stream preferable— Gkassing, Spreading 

 andX/TFTiNG — Water in which Flax has been steeped as Manure, especially for 

 flowers, — Flax Seed for feeding cattle practised and recommended by 

 E. McKane, Esq., Ballyharden, and Blackwater, Armagh, Ireland, from the year 

 1830, on his extensive Farms. 



In recommending the more extended cultivation of Flax now 

 in 1864, (when I find there is an increase of 87,843 acres 

 grown in Ireland this year over that of 1863) to the con- 

 sideration and attention of the Landowners and the Farmers 

 of Great Britain and Ireland, as being more profitable to 

 grow than any other article that they can produce from 

 tilling the soil, aided as our natural productions are, by 

 the climate of the country, my first duty will be to direct 

 attention to the description of soil that is requisite for the 

 growth of the Plant, so that Farmers may know how to select 

 or prepare their land, that they may calculate with certainty 

 on producing Flax of fi?ie and valuable quality, such as the 

 Belfast Flax Society asserts has been produced, and sold at 



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