FLAX MAY BE GROWN ON POOR LANDS. 



75 



that soil: except in a few instances^ it is cultivated upon a 

 very contracted scale, seldom more than an acre or two being 

 in the possession of one person, and in many cases it does not 

 exceed a half or a quarter of an acre, as may be seen by 

 looking over the premiums awarded by the honourable board 

 of trustees. 



In the present state of Britain, with regard to provisions 

 and population, the question is of high importance, whether a 

 part of the arable lands which are now actijowledged to be 

 barely sufficient for producing a due proportion of grain and 

 other necessaries of life, can with safety be withdrawn from 

 that purpose and employed in any other way. Humanity as 

 well as sound policy forbids the attempt ; the effect certainly 

 would be that of enhancing the price of provisions, a calamity 

 which has already been but too severely felt. This considera- 

 tion, though it may deter proprietors and farmers from using 

 their good arable lands in that way, does not preclude the idea 

 of raising flax to a great extent ; at present there are immense 

 tracts under the denomination of moors, mosses, swamps, 

 wastes, &c., upon which flax and hemp may not only be suc- 

 cessfully raised with little labour and at small expense, but 

 the tillage and other operations given for the flax crops will 

 greatly facilitate their improvement and put them in the 

 proper train for the culture of grain, &c. 



It is well known to those who have had much experience 

 in raising flax and hemp, that very large crops of both may be 

 obtained from lands of the above description, not only with 

 safety but advantage to the soil. Property of this sort is 

 allowed to remain in a state of nature ; in some cases, from an 

 idea that it is not worth improving, and in others on account 

 of the great labour and heavy expenses of purchasing lime and 

 other manures sufficient to render it fit for carrying grain. — 

 Fortunately flax requires no such expensive preparation. 

 Tillage alone, and the cost of the seed, are all that are neces- 

 sary ; and the crop in general, when properly managed, will 

 not only repay these, but afford a profit sufficient to enable the 

 cultivator to purchase lime or other manures for his future 

 crops. In that way a double benefit will result to the com- 

 munity ; first by keeping great sums of money in the country 

 that are yearly sent abroad, and at the same time furnishing 



