PROFITS OF FLAX CULTIVATION. 



91 



£40,000 per annum to the French, Dutch and Eussians for 

 Flax, now distribute those large sums annually amongst the 

 farmers in their immediate districts. 



"Having inserted in my former letter, published in your 

 paper, on this subject, the names of several gentlemen who 

 have, by instructions from the Belfast Flax Society and 

 myself, grown Flax in this country and in Ireland, with profits 

 ranging from £20 to £50 per acre, I wish to bring forward 

 additional proof, in order to satisfy agriculturists that no 

 crop will remunerate them like that of Flax ; and as I have 

 just had a conversation with a gentleman who farms several 

 hundred acres in Norfolk, and frequently grows Hemp, but 

 who has never attempted to produce Flax, I shall quote his 

 calculation as to the expenses and profits on the growing of 

 eight acres of wheat, in order that those who read this letter 

 (and are not practical farmers) may compare the expenses and 

 profits, which are evidently in favour of Flax-growing. This 

 gentleman's argument against Flax-growing is, that by grow- 

 ing there is no straw left, as there is by growing wheat, and as 

 a consequence, the land would be run out for want of manure; 

 but, as by his calculation, eight acres will only produce 

 £16 16s. worth of straw, I think it will not require much cal- 

 culation to convince farmers who fatten cattle, that £72 10s. 

 worth of Flax-seed, which can be had off eight acres, will 

 produce more manure than £16 worth of straw. 



