RESTORATIVE, NOT AN EXHAUSTING CROP. 99 



thoroughly separated from each other, and the quality of the 

 Flax is coarser than it might he. When the Flax is steeped 

 the water acquires a darker colour, a disagreeable odour, and 

 it is well known, becomes poisonous to fish. This arises from 

 the solution of the glutinous material which had cemented 

 together the pure fibres. The author of the Survey of 

 Somersetshire (Mr. Billingsby) says — " Haying myself culti- 

 vated Flax on a large scale, and having observed the almost 

 instantaneous effect of Flax-water upon fish similar to that 

 produced by lime, I was led some years ago, to apply it to 

 some pasture land, by means of watering carts similar to those 

 used near London for watering the roads ; the effect was 

 astonishing, and advanced the land in value 10s. per acre.' " 



' ' This extract shows that Professor Kane has conversed with 

 Flax spinners and has been made acquainted with the details 

 of Flax culture. The following passage on the same subject 

 is taken from the Scottish Farmer; and as the writer of the 

 article is already partly convinced against his will, I hope 

 fully to convince him that Flax is not an exhauster of the 

 soil :— 



" ' The landlords of Scotland have hitherto been opposed to 

 the growth of Flax, in consequence of its being a ' ' scourging " 

 crop, and in the majority of leases a clause is introduced 

 prohibiting or restricting its growth. Professor Low says 

 (and all our agricultural authorities agree with him), that Flax 

 is an exhauster of the soil and the farm, and more so when its 

 seeds are permitted to arrive at maturity. When pulled green 

 its effects are less injurious; in which respect it follows the 

 general law of other cultivated plants. But still, at whatever 

 period reaped, it is thus an impoverisher of the farm, that its 

 stems yield no return in manure, and that its seeds only do so 

 when consumed upon the farm. In a paper read by Dr. Kane 

 before the Eoyal Irish Academy, that gentleman attempts to 

 prove that in the production of the fibre no exhaustion of the 



