270 



PAUPERS TAUGHT TO DRESS FLAX. 



port of the National Flax and Agricultural Improvement 

 Association. 



The appropriation of land to the growth of flax with the 

 view of finding employment for the poor, must necessarily be 

 increased in parishes where idle hands abound the most. In 

 such, two, or possibly three acres in every hundred would be 

 required, while others might be exempt altogether. Still it 

 would be found that, on the average, were one acre to a hun- 

 dred sown, the redundant population would not be sufficient to 

 prepare the crops for market ; and the supply of flax and 

 linseed would be inadequate to the increasing demands of the 

 manufacturers and graziers of this country. 



A wide field, therefore, is open for the employment of British 

 capital, and for the exercise of British skill ; which, the in- 

 quirer will discover, must be attended with the certainty of 

 gain, without the possibility of loss. For instance, St. Faith's, 

 distant three miles from Norwich, has, for years, been burdened 

 with a population for which no permanent employment could 

 be found. Last year, two or three farmers of that parish grew 

 small quantities of flax, upon which ten or twelve of the most 

 active paupers are, at the present time^ being taught the art 

 of hand-scutching, and will soon become expert. This year, 

 all the farmers have agreed to grow flax proportionate to their 

 occupations, in order that the poor may, in future, be offered 

 employment, instead of the bread of idleness. 



For the same reasonable and benevolent object, Joseph Bul- 

 len is now teaching the inmates of the Union Workhouse at 

 Stradbroke, in Suflfolk, to dress flax. Thus, attempts are being 

 made to prevent pauperism, and to turn the redundant poor 

 to a profitable account. From these measures no loss can pos- 

 sibly accrue ; for the labour of the pauper, and the cost of his 

 maintenance, were lost before. All, therefore, that he pro- 

 duces at market, is gain. 



Were it necessary to cultivate waste-lands for the employ- 

 ment of the people, an additional argument might be raised 

 in favour of flax ; because the plant will flourish and produce 

 much valuable linseed upon ground newly broken up, as I 

 showed in my last letter. But I now wish to direct attention 



