FLAX OF RIGA. 



83 



The 25 stone of fine flax will yield 2000 spindles of yarn, at 

 5 spindles in the pound ; which wrought in the finest reed, viz., 

 a 2400, will produce 2388 yards of cambric at 1 Os. per yard, 

 amounting to 1194Z. 



The 12 stone and a half of the second sort of flax will pro- 

 duce 200 spindles of yarn, which, when WTOught in a 1500 reed, 

 will yield 452 yards of linen at 2s. 6d. per yard, and this 

 amounts to 56/. lOs. 



The 12 stone and a half of the coarsest flax spun into yarn, 

 at two pounds per spindle, and wove in a 600 reel, will pro- 

 duce 1129 yards of linen, which, at Sd. per yard, amounts to 

 32Z. 125. All these sums make no less than 1283/. 2s., the pro- 

 duce of one single acre of flax. 



That the computation of 50 stone to an acre of flax is mode- 

 rate, I appeal to all the flax-raisers in Yorkshire and Lincoln- 

 shire; that IO5. a yard for the finest cambrics is a low valua- 

 ation, I appeal to all the linen-drapers in London ; and that 

 the calculations of the produce of the yards from the several 

 quantities of flax and yarn are just, I appeal to all the spinsters 

 and weavers in Great Britain and Ireland. 



To what an immense sum would this produce amount, did 

 we suppose an acre to produce 100 stone instead of 50, and the 

 cambric at 155. or I85. per yard instead of lOs. ! Nay, further, 

 should we suppose that this flax was manufactured into lace, I 

 don't know but we might swell the reckoning above a hundred- 

 fold. 



I shall now compute how much an acre of the worst flax 

 must produce, when manufactured into the meanest sort of 

 linen; a case, that though it can scarcely happen in this 

 country, yet, for argument's sake, I shall admit. 



It will not be denied that, of all flax, the Riga and Peters- 

 burg is the coarsest ; that of all linens the fabric of the Dundee 

 linens is the poorest and meanest ; that Riga and Petersburg 

 flax is of a sufficient quality, and is commonly used for the 

 fabric of the Dundee linen ; and, lastly, that 30 stone of flax 

 to an acre is a very bad crop. This 30 stone of flax then, sup- 

 posed to be the produce of an acre, will yield 240 spindles of 

 yarn, at two pounds to the spindle; and this 240 spindles, 

 wrought in a 400 reed, will produce 1152 yards of linen, 



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