THE LETTER OF THE HON. W. K. ROUS. 



203 



novitiate, and show how necessary are the figures of a practical 

 mind to rectify his errors. 



By 35 stone of flax, at 



Ss. per stone . 

 4J coombs of seed for 



crushing- 

 Chaff and refuse flax, 



&c. 

 Tow 



£. s. 



d. 



14 







6 15 







15 







7 



6 



Deduct 

 Balance 



21 17 6 

 12 



£9 17 6 



s. d. 



Rent, &c. . . . 1 10 

 Tillage . . . 17 6 

 Manure, if any . .15 

 Three bushels of seed 



(warranted) . . 1 10 

 Pulling, steeping, and 



after processes . .115 

 Scutching 35 stone of 



flax at 2s. per stone . 3 10 

 Threshing 4^ coombs 



of seed, and re-tying 



sheaves with double 



bands . . .110 

 Incidental expenses .0 11 6 



£12 



"An ample profit." Ample, because 211. i7s. 6d. per acre 

 is much more than the acre able value of corn crops ; ample, 

 because 9L I7s. 6d. an acre net profit, is 91. lOs. more than 

 has been realized upon average farms in Norfolk during 

 the last seven years, if not upon the best (for the accuracy of 

 this calculation I refer the hon. gentleman to his neighbour 

 Mr. Gower, who rents 500 acres of fine and well-cultivated 

 land) ; ample profit, because the grower ought to be content 

 with the same return for flax, that he obtains for other crops ; 

 ample, because of the indirect advantages, which my pen would 

 fail me to enumerate. 



Mr. Rous next alludes to a problem that is to be solved 

 before the meeting of the Flax Society in February. In the 

 meantime other problems are being worked out, which, on com- 

 parison, at that eventful period, will, I hope, be found to accord ; 

 for " they also promise well," 



With respect to the postscript, Mr. Rous ought to have been 

 informed why the fibre from the flax grown for seed ''generally 

 speaking "had not paid for the ''labour and cost;" when it 

 would have appeared that owing to thorough ignorance of the 

 business on the one hand, and neglect on the other, the flax 

 referred to was so much spoiled as not to repay the expenses. 



