66 



DICKSON ON THE 



A COKKECT SCALE SHOWING THE FIRST 

 COST OF FLAX. 



WITH THE DESCRIPTION AND NUMBERS THAT EACH QUALITY IS 

 CALCULATED TO BE SPUN TO BY FLAX SPINNERS 

 IN FACTORIES. 



In order that the reader may have a correct idea of the 

 value of the article after being handled by him and ready for 

 market, I shall here give a calculation of it, according as the 

 fibre is suited for spinning into the different numbers, from the 

 coarser to the finer sorts, or numbers suited to be manufacured 

 into coarse and fine qualities of linen and cambric ; and those 

 who take the trouble to examine the following table will see 

 that the spinners are much better paid for the yarns spun from 

 the finer qualities than those of the coarse. Thus they must 

 feel satisfied that their attention, if they wish to cultivate Flax, 

 should be directed (like the French and Belgians) to the 

 growing of the finer fibre; and as I always found that 

 when I had a fine quality of Flax, I had the greater weight per 

 acre, because of its having been a close, thick crop, it is but 

 proper to notice that where a crop of Flax turns out light on 

 the ground^ it will be of coarse quality, and along with that, the 

 weight per acre will be frequently not more than one half of 

 what I know to have been gotten when the crop turned out 

 fine ; therefore, as there is a wide difference between the 

 value of coarse and fine quality of Flax, the prices running 

 from £40 to £170 per ton, it is evident that there is no article 

 produced that offers such advantages to the farmer. 



