286 



SUCCESS OF THE FLAX CAUSE. 



two acres of flax, which, with the seed, amounted to 48/. Mr. 

 Barcham, of Antingham, disposed of 60 stone of 1 4 lbs. and of 

 about 20 bushels of seed gro\vn upon one acre. Many similarly 

 productive crops have been sold in Norfolk and Suffolk ; but 

 not being in possession of accurate returns, I cannot at present 

 record them. It is, however, worthy of observation, that the 

 price of the best Norfolk wheat is now only 22^. ^d. per coomb, 

 while that of sowing linseed is 405.; also, that barley is 

 selling at 135. 6c?., and crushing linseed at 305. ; all of native 

 growth. 



Whether the reader refer to the above facts, which admit of 

 no refutation, to our advancement in the arts of preparation_, 

 to the ingenuity and efficacy of our machinery, or to the growing 

 spirit of inquiry, he will discover how senseless and unavailing 

 were the attempts to thwart my advocacy of these important 

 subjects, and to confine within the limits of a locality benefits 

 that were ordained for the kingdom at large. 



Our flax-ship may now be considered fairly launched, re- 

 quiring only skilful mariners to direct her course. That her 

 voyage will be prosperous, I entertain no doubt ; because the 

 necessities of an increasing population imperatively demand 

 that food, raiment, and employment with which she is so richly 

 laden ; — food, because of the seed of flax, which, formed into 

 compounds to fatten cattle, produces corn as well as meat — 

 raiment, because of the linen obtained from the stalks — and 

 employment, because of the thirty branches of business attached 

 to the crop. 



If idleness be the root of all evil, the employment of the 

 poor must ever be a prominent object of Christian duty. Could 

 my readers witness the beneficial effects of flax-scutching alone 

 upon certain classes destitute of all moral and religious order, 

 they would firmly unite with me in the furtherance of this 

 ' great cause, nor desist from their labours till flax shall have 

 become a staple commodity of this country. 



During my progress, I have been enabled to surmount diflfil- 

 culties to which I shall ever revert with gratitude and astonish- 

 ment. Had my opponents been capable of appreciating the 

 principles by which I was actuated, they would have shared 

 with me " the luxury of doing good," and escaped an unen- 



