310 



PRINCIPLES INVOLVED IN 



six years in the following rotations, viz . : clover, stubble, flax, 

 wheat, barley — wheat, flax, wheat, barley — wheat, barley, flax, 

 barley — potatoes, flax, turnips, wheat — wheat, potatoes, flax, 

 turnips the same year, barley — and so on, the improvement in 

 each field being distinguishable. 



7th. — This year I have sown already four acres and a half, 

 upon clover stubble ; one acre after barley, instead of turnips ; 

 three-quarters of an acre that never produced anything save 

 briars and thorns ; and three acres, the previous crops having 

 been flax, wheat, and barley.* 



8th. — I have now six fields of wheat growing, the most luxu- 

 riant of which is that after flax, and even superior to any in the 

 parish. 



9th. — When wheat follows flax, much less seed is required. 



10th. — One acre sown with flax to every hundred now under 

 tillage, would produce at least 35,000 tons of linseed more 

 than ever were imported of oil-cake in one year ; afford employ- 

 ment for double the present redundant population ; and not 

 then supply half the demand for the fibre. 



From observation and some experience, I am of opinion that 

 clay land, such as is now allowed to lie fallow, would produce 

 abundant crops of wheat and flax, much longer than any other 

 rotation. 



I could adduce many additional facts in refutation of former 

 prejudices against the flax crop, and in favour of its immediate 

 adoption in every agricultural district throughout the kingdom. 



Two fundamental principles are involved in this important 

 question : — 



1st. — The successful cultivation of the plant depends upon 



* The experiment upon the three-quarters of an acre failed completely ; all 

 the plants died off when scarcely two inches high, while those on either side, 

 upon land that had been some time reclaimed, arrived at maturity. 



The three acres are again sown with flax and wheat, therefore the rotation 

 now (1847) stands thus: Flax, wheat, barley, flax, wheat, on one part of the 

 field ; on the other, flax, wheat, barley, flax, flax. The former looks admirably 

 at the present time, the latter not yet apparent. Soil light, fairly dressed 

 with box-manure, and very clean. Next year the crops are intended to be re- 

 versed. My object in making these experiments is to show that flax is a 

 meliorating, not an exhausting crop, may be introduced with advantage upon 

 lands congenial to the growth of turnips, and supersede the idle fallow. 



