ELAX COMPARED WITH WHEAT. 



95 



among the farmers who may not grow it, for they do admit 

 it is superior to anything yet found out for fattening cattle. 



lt As landowners are prevailed upon everywhere to lend their 

 names, capital and influence to speculation on embankments 

 and excavations, it might be prudent for them, while they sink 

 their money in railways, to reflect on the state of the tenant 

 farmers, while the manufacturers, to a man, are calling out for 

 open ports and a free trade in corn ; and as by this letter I 

 prove that a farmer can grow on eight acres of land what will 

 leave £172 10s. profit, a sum sufficient to pay the rent of a 

 farm containing 125 acres at the highest average price in 

 England (Leicester, £l 6s. 9d.), it might be advisable for 

 landed proprietors to do less in railways and use a little of 

 their unemployed capital and influence in establishing a company 

 for the growth of Flax, an article that it is evident will enable 

 farmers to pay their rents, regardless of the present protecting 

 duty, whether on or off. This could be done by a joint-stock 

 company, with branches and model farms in different districts ; 

 such a company w T ould command the influence and assistance of 

 a powerful and wealthy body — the Flax spinners of Great 

 Britain— who are deeply interested and most anxious to see 

 an article grown at home for which they have to look to 

 foreigners — an article so superior to cotton in texture and 

 durability. Such a company will not only act as a GOLDEN" 

 LINK BETWEEN AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE, but the good 

 effects are certain to be soon felt by the majority of the 

 people, small farmers and labourers — a class whose condition 

 landlords should study to improve, for by so doing they will 

 enlist an army of defence, in reality a protective society, so that 

 all attempts in future to create disunion between the people 

 and their landlords ivould be in vain. 



" As English landowners need not be told that spinners and 

 manufacturers of cotton keep their eyes steadily on what is 

 most likely to benefit their trade ; it may not be out of place 



