On Claussens Flax-Cotton. 



239 



cultural Society that the produce of his seed was 9/. 125. per acre. 

 The published experience of Mr. Warnes is to the effect that, 

 in his own case, where both seed and fibre were saved, his profit 

 upon 14 acres of flax was upwards of 6/. per acre over that of his 

 wheat, the latter being an excellent crop. In the preparation of 

 the fibre, however, for market, an amount of risk and trouble is 

 necessary to be incurred on the part of the grower, to v/hich few 

 persons would be willing to expose themselves. The example of 

 Mr. Druce, who saved his seed, and disposed of his flax in the 

 straw, without any further preparation for market, appears best 

 adapted to the wants and requirements of the growers of flax in 

 this country. Mr. Druce sowed last year 5 acres 2 roods 36 

 perches of flax ; his total expenses of cultivation were 36/. 10^. Ad, 

 The produce of the crop he gives as follows : — 



£. s. d. ' 



Sale of flax-seed 20J bushels per acre — il6|- bushels, at 85. 46 10 0 

 Sale of flax-straw— 12 tons, 2 cwt. 2 qrs. at 3/. per ton . 36 7 6 

 Sale of chaff, at 5s. per acre 18 7 



Total receipts £84 6 1 



Leaving a net profit of 47/. 15s. 2d. on the 5 acres 2 roods 36 

 perches, being equal to 8/. Qs. 2d. per acre. 



The question arises, how is it that, with such facts before our agri- 

 culturists, the cultivation of flax is not more general in this coun- 

 try ? The answer is to be found in the difficulty and uncertainty of 

 finding a market for the produce. For one who, like Mr. Warnes, 

 has the perseverance necessary to overcome the obstacles con- 

 nected with the steeping and dressing of the flax, there are hun- 

 dreds who have neither the facility nor the inclination ; v/hile the 

 case of Mr. Druce, who was able to dispose of the crop in the 

 straw at a remunerative price, is an exception to the general rule. 

 No wonder, therefore, that, in the face of the existing difficulties, the 

 cultivation of the plant has been so small, and that, notwithstand- 

 ing the increased demands for it, and the sustained eftbrts of the 

 Royal Irish Flax Society, there has been both in this country, and 

 in Ireland, up to the present year, a gradual diminution in the 

 breadth of land sown with flax. The position in which the 

 grower is placed, and the difficulties with which he has to contend, 

 even in Ireland, where the great seats of the flax manufacture are 

 situated, were thus forcibly stated by Lord Monteagle, one of the 

 Vice-Presidents of the Hoyal Irish Flax Society, at the meeting of 

 the Royal Agricultural Society of England. He said, — 



" He had been induced more to restore the growth of flax in that part of 

 Ireland in which he resided, than to introduce it, as the cultivation had 

 ceased on account of the want of markets for the produce. His tenants too 

 were induced to join in the cause, as well as the Earl of Devon, and other 

 influential landowners of the district. They all succeeded, grew good 

 flpx and the specimens received the favourable notice of the Flax Society, 



