206 



DICKSON ON THE PROMTS OF 



machinery for the purpose, and I am now able to say that 

 I have overcome every difficulty, and have worked my 

 machines successfully in the presence of several landowners, 

 who take a deep interest in the subject, and am ready to 

 purchase any quantity of Flax-straw from farmers, at fair 

 prices according to quality. 



In addition to the fact already stated in your paper, of my 

 having produced 5 fibs, of fibre out of every 14lbs. of Flax- 

 straw, an experiment was made on the 30th ult. in presence 

 of several gentlemen on a small bag ot Flax-straw, containing 

 •in the green state 53lbs. 14ozs., sent by Lord Lovaine to 

 ascertain the produce and value. On being dried its weight 

 was reduced 12lbs. lOozs., being then 411bs. 4ozs., and 

 being operated on by the machine the wood or shive was 

 got rid of, and 19Jlbs. of green Flax fibre was the result. 



Your readers will naturally ask, is there a market for 

 such fibre, and is it as profitable as retting and scutching in 

 the usual way ? I answer, there is a market for it, and large 

 quantities can be sold at very remunerating prices. Green 

 unretted Flax is a better article for many purposes than 

 retted Flax. The gum or resin, being retained, it will, 

 when spun, make stronger and better shoe-thread and fine 

 twine, and also better sailcloth and canvas than any retted 

 Flax. Being able to obtain the fibre without having recourse 

 to decomposition, I can collect all the fibre the land produces; 

 whereas in retting a great deal of the finer filaments dis- 

 appear. By my machines I bring it into a marketable state 

 without the after process, which is requisite only when a 

 finer and more valuable quality of Flax is wanted for linen 

 and cambric yarn spinners. 



Seeing that I have produced 19 Jibs, of fibre out of 

 53lbs. 14ozs. of straw sent me for experiment, and calcu- 

 lating 20lbs. out of 56lbs. I find in preparing it the produce 

 and profit will be as follows : — 



