ANSWER TO MR. GOWER. 



207 



obliged to use horses (very moderate ones), and of obtaining men from a 

 distance at a higher rate of wages than is customary in this district. 



The expense of cultivating, rating, and scutching a superior acre of flax of 

 the above description, might be reduced to 16/. 



The above, however, is a useful record, as it establishes the fact 

 that Norfolk land is capable of producing 80 st. of flax per acre ; and 

 that, under judicious management, the crop is of all others the most 

 profitable to the grower, and second to none in importance to the 

 Nation. 



No. X. 



Sir, 



It is with no common feelings of regret that I find 

 myself compelled to devote a portion of the present number to 

 the refutation of Mr. Gower's letter^ that appeared in your 

 paper of January 27 ; a letter that I should have considered 

 totally unworthy of notice in times less alarming than the 

 present. But, knowing how prompt the Anti-Corn-Law League 

 is to lay hold of, and to disseminate, anything that may be 

 turned to the destruction of the farmer, I am bound to pro- 

 nounce it a most inconsistent and fallacious document. 



In vain would be the remonstrances of the tenant, the pro- 

 testations of the landlord, and the exertions of protective 

 associations to stem the torrent of free-trade, if Mr. Gower's 

 monster- calculations are suffered to remain unexplained. 



Whether the net profit upon an acre of prepared flax, ac* 

 cording to the Hon. Mr. Rous's account, amounts to 91. As., or to 

 5/. 1 \s. per acre for unprepared flax, according to Mr. Gower's 

 account ; or whether the seed is worth 255., SO^., or 40^. per 

 coomb, are questions of minor importance to the public, seeing 

 that the crop ensures, at all events, an abundance of employment ' 

 to the labourer, and a profitable return to the grower. Thus 

 much even Mr. Gower himself has established without the aid 

 of a College education." Indeed, he has proved, beyond dis- 

 putation, all, or more than, I ever promised. For, on referring 

 to my ' Suggestions,' I find the following passage : — 



