340 



APPENDIX. 



dred times in a minute, tlie flax being held over boards placed perpendi- 

 cularly and attached to the frame work. The breaker consists of four 

 pairs of fluted rollers, placed upon a strong frame of wood. To these 

 cogged \vheels are fixed, which, being attached by a rigger and strap to 

 the axle of the scutching-mill, are set in motion by the same power. 

 Through the flutes of the rollers, which revolve into each other, the 

 flax is passed in small handfuls. The woody part is thus loosened from 

 the fibre, and prepared for the scutching mill. The machines were 

 worked by horses, but can be attached to water-mills, &c., or propelled 

 by manual labour. The mechanism of both is simple, but the execution 

 considerable. The Rev. James Bulvver kindly allowed the use of his 

 barn, near the town, for the exhibition. At ten o clock the operations 

 commenced, and continued to attract attention till three. The trial was 

 made with four sorts of flax. The first, very fine, grown by Mr. H. 

 Soames, of Aylsham ; the second, by the Right Hon. Lord Hastings ; 

 the third, by Mr. Smith, of Gunton ; and the fourth, by Robert 

 Marsham, Esq., of Stratton Strawless. The only stalks tested by time 

 were two stones sent by Lord Hastings, which were broken in less than 

 two minutes, and scutched in seventeen. The mill was made by Mr. 

 Dyball, of North Walsham, and the breaker by Mr. Cubitt, iron- 

 founder, of the same place, under the personal superintendence of Mr. 

 Warnes, who has thus improved upon the machinery which he in- 

 spected in Ireland, and evinced his unabated perseverance in the promotion 

 of a cause which, if once established, must indisputably advance the 

 agriculture and home commerce of this country." 



The diflSculty of obtaining funds to defray the expenses of hand- 

 scutching by novices, suggested the idea of procuring machinery. A 

 deputation was, in consequence, sent to Ireland to inspect the flax- 

 mills of that country, which resulted in the construction of the machines 

 to which allusion has just been made. How far their establishment in 

 England may be rendered permanent, it is impossible to predict. But 

 one circumstance is worthy of notice, viz. — that an application has al- 

 ready been made by the Irish Flax Improvement Society, for the di- 

 mensions and other particulars of the portable scutching-mill. We may 

 therefore fearlessly foretell the great utility of such machines in the 

 North of Ireland, where complaints are loud against the imperfect 

 management of flax at the stationary mills ; and also to the South, 

 where the farmers are incapacitated for growing flax, by reason of 

 having no mills to prepare the fibre for market. To the Flax Improve- 

 ment Society of Ireland we are deeply indebted for our present ad- 

 vancement. The National Association would therefore rejoice, should 

 the plan of our mill prove, in any degree, a return for favours often 

 received. 



