TO THE SECOND EDITION, 7 



in spring depart to aid the tillers of the soil, rejoicing in 

 the hope that when harvest is past and summer ended 

 they may again resort to the preparation of flax. 



I now claim attention to the advantages we ourselves 

 may derive from the crop, the greatest of which must 

 ever centre in the consciousness of doing good. But our 

 reward cannot terminate here, because a bountiful Pro- 

 vidence always blesses with increase the labours of the 

 poor ; and it will be our own fault if, through want of 

 proper attention, we reap not profits equal to those re- 

 corded in this book. 



I am prevented from giving an accurate return for my 

 last year's produce, because only half has been sent to 

 market; but from the price obtained, viz., 855. per cwt. 

 for the best, and 535. for the worst, I calculate that the 

 profits per acre will be from about 8/. to 12/., after allow- 

 ing my labourers, according to the above extract, a more 

 liberal interest in the crop than heretofore. 



The reasonableness of this calculation will appear evi- 

 dent on comparison with the following letter, already 

 widely circulated through the public journals : — 



ON THE CULTIVATION OF FLAX. 



To the Editor of the Oxford Journal. 



Sir, — From the interest you take at all times in matters 

 relating to agriculture, I am induced to lay before you the 

 result of an experiment in the cultivation of flax on my father's 

 farm (the produce of which has just been sold by Mr. Schwann, 

 agent for the sale of flax, Leeds), with the hope that it may in 

 some degree remove existing prejudices against the cultivation 

 of this invaluable plant, as it not only suj)plies the farmer with 

 an excellent ingredient for the purposes of feeding cattle, but 

 also aflbrds good and profitable employment to the rural 

 population, which, it must be admitted by all, is much wanted 

 at this season of the year. 



