FLAX-GROWING IN THE MIDDLE AGES. 



49 



occupations were all extremely small, not one of which, as I 

 understood, exceeded fifty acres. Who can contemplate such 

 a glorious return of national prosperity without feeling a desire 

 to participate in the reality, and a determination to afford the 

 means ? To carry out this great, this all-important cause, the 

 first step must be to engage a person of experience to teach 

 our people the art of managing flax — Mr. Demann is ready 

 to undertake the office. We have about fifty acres of flax of 

 last year's growth, which can be concentrated in some conve- 

 nient spot, where pupils from various parts may be sent to 

 acquire a knowledge of the business, and become qualified, on 

 their return, to teach others ; and, under the superintendence 

 of the Society's agents, to manage the future crop. In the 

 course of three or four years we shall produce flax of the first 

 and most profitable description; and thus will be laid the 

 foundation of a system, which, as years roll on, shall add to the 

 wealth, independence, and prosperity of our country. 



Sir Edward Stracey came forward amid great applause, 

 and seconded the motion. He -said, that although in conse- 

 quence of his infirm state of health he was not able to address 

 the meeting at any length, yet he could not refrain from calling 

 attention to the subject matter under discussion, which he con- 

 sidered to be of the utmost importance not only to the agri- 

 culture, but also to the manufactures of this country. (Hear, 

 hear.) As it was a very cold day, he would not detain the 

 meeting a great while; he would merely observe that flax- 

 growing had been established and protected by statute in this 

 country from the time of Henry VIII. and Elizabeth to the 

 reign of George III. Till the middle of the reign of George 

 III. flax was cultivated and assistance was given by the legis- 

 lature to that cultivation ; but about the middle of the reign 

 of George III. cotton was introduced, and the consequence was 

 that flax vanished from use. And what had the cotton manufac- 

 ture done ? It had subjected the agriculturist of this country 

 to the payment of enormous sums of money for foreign food 

 used in fattening cattle, and had beside transferred our trade 

 to Russia, which country now supplies us with flax and hemp 

 for cordage. Mr. Warnes had explained at length the skill 



