MR. DRUCE TO THE AUTHOR. 



299 



" Evesham, near Oxford, October 20th, 1846. 



" Dear Sir, 



Since I last wrote to you we have had a man from Bridport 

 to dress our flax, the growth of last year. The produce of 4 acres, 

 1 rood, 24 perches, was 104 bushels of seed, 121 dozen of flax, and 

 31 dozen of tow. We paid the man 2s. per dozen for dressing the 

 flax, and 1^. per dozen for the tow. His plans are altogether very 

 original, and I am sure widely different from those followed by you. 

 He is now dressing the crop of this year, which is very short, and will 

 not yield much to the acre. But the seed is good, and we had 129 

 bushels from 5i acres. I have inclosed samples of both years* 

 growth, and shall feel much obliged if you will inform me who is 

 likely to purchase it. 



" Samuel Druce, Jun." 



I referred Mr. Druce to Mr. Schwann, agent for the sale of 

 flax at Leeds. I also requested him to favour the public with 

 a detailed account of his experience through the columns of 

 the Farmer s Journal, inclosing him small specimens of flax 

 dressed by boys upon my premises, in order that he might be 

 himself a judge of the superiority of the new over the old 

 system. The following is his brief and truly patriotic reply : — 



" Dear Sir, " October 2Sth. 



" I am much obliged for the specimens of flax you were kind 

 enough to send, at which our man seemed perfectly astonished. He 

 tells me the flax he is now dressing is as good in colour as any he ever 

 dressed in Dorsetshire, He has a great desire to see and learn your 

 system of management. I should have been pleased to have addressed 

 a letter to the Farmer's Journal, but find my time too much occupied. 

 However, I beg to say that you are quite at liberty to insert any por- 

 tion of my letter you may think worthy of notice. 



" Samuel Druce." 



Mr. Druce will, I expect, shortly forward a bundle of flax 

 for comparison with the specimens now so kindly exhibited in 

 your oflSce. 



Thus have I been enabled to adduce instances of success, in 

 opposition to the surmises of a fictitious Cincinnatus," and 

 to the tales of an anonymous " Subscriber;" showing the spirit 

 of the present, with the deadness of the past age ; the light of 



