94 



USE OF THE TWO-HANDED WHEEL. 



number of hands to spin the double of what they do at pre- 

 sent, so that there would be a call for raising a double quan- 

 tity, one-half of which would fall to be added to our present 

 exportation, and bring a large yearly revenue to the county, 

 besides enabling the poor to earn twice as much by spinning 

 as they do at present. A small premium to the first, second, 

 and third, who should use these wheels in any parish, might 

 have a good effect. After that, we may, perhaps, as in other 

 places, go a step further, and think of spinning lint in a still 

 greater quantity by the use of water-machinery, which is now 

 made to spin flax as well as wool and cotton. 



To the Secretary of the Bath Agricultural Society, hy a Dorsetshire 

 Gentleman, 1781. 



Mr. Rack, 



I BEG leave to trouble the Gentlemen of the Bath 

 Society with a few remarks on the culture of hemp and flax, as 

 being articles of great national importance, and therefore well 

 worthy their attention. 



I have often observed, that the greater part of those rich 

 marshy lands lying to the west of Mendip-hills are as badly 

 managed as any in this county, or perhaps in the kingdom. 

 The farmers whose property it is seem content with the pro- 

 duce it aflbrds them without much cultivation or labour ; and 

 appear to be utter strangers to its real value, or the profits 

 that would speedily arise from a spirited and judicious mode 

 of management, were it but adopted. Almost any method 

 of cultivation diff*erent from the present would in point of 

 private advantage be infinitely preferable. But were these 

 lands appropriated to hemp and flax, they would prove highly 

 advantageous both to the landholders and the public at 

 large. 



It is well known that soils naturally rich and fertile will 

 produce hemp and flax in abundance ; and as these are ame- 

 liorating crops, they will not impoverish the land. 



