On the Cultivation of Flax. 



365 



Tons. Tons. 

 In 1840. . . 62,649 In 1843. . . 71,857 



1841. . . 67,368 1844. . . 79,424 



1842. . . 55,113 1845. . • 70,916 

 Estimating the quantity grown in the British IslandS; chiefly 



the produce of Ireland, as an average of 25,000 tons per annum, 

 and adding it to the above table, we learn that the consumption 

 varies from 80,000 to 105,000 tons per annum. The greater 

 proportion of this flax, after being spun, is woven into linen 

 fabrics of all kinds, from the coarsest canvas to the finest cambric; 

 but a large quantity is exported, in yarn, principally to Germany, 

 France, and Spain. Flax enters into the composition of the 

 following articles: linens of all kinds, lawns, diapers and table- 

 damasks, cambrics and cambric Handkerchiefs, the delicate lace 

 textures of Brussels, Malines, and Valenciennes, canvas, drills, 

 sailcloth of all kinds, tapes, sewing and tailor's thread, fishermen's 

 nets and lines, ropes and twine, &c. &c. &c. 



But, besides the fibre, a large quantity of the products of this 

 plant is imported in the seed, and oil-cakes manufactured from 

 the seed. 



Taking the year 1844, we find the following imports of fibre, 

 seed, and oil-cakes, which will at once give an idea of the extent 

 to which we pay foreigners for the different items of flnx pro- 

 duce ; — 



1,588,494 cwt, of flax at 50^. . . £3,971,200 

 616,947 quarters of flax-seed at 45^. 1,388,131 

 85-690 tons of oil-cakes at 150^. 644,175 



£6,003,506 



The flax was furnished by the following countries in the pro- 

 portions stated: — Russia, 70 per cent.; Prussia, 10 per cent.; 

 Holland, 8 per cent. ; Belgium, 7 per cent. ; France, 3^ per cent. ; 

 Germany, Egypt, Sicily, Italy, and Turkey, 1^ per cent.* The 

 seed from the East Indies, Egypt, Russia, Sicily, Prussia, and 

 Holland. The oil-cakes from France, Germany, and the United 

 States. 



With respect to the comparative qualities of native and foreign 

 flax, it is understood that, except for the very finest yarns, the 

 flax-spinners would give the preference to the homegrown fibre.f 



* Since that year the quantity from Belgium has increased, and Egypt 

 has furnished a considerable proportion, while a small per centage has 

 been obtained from America. 



t The following opinion on the capability of Great Britain and Ireland 

 for producing flax is extracted from the ' Enquete siir I'lndustrie Liniere de 

 la Belgique' in 1841, through the documents published by the Belgian 

 government: — " Le lin d"Ir]ande, quand on le tire, est au:ssi bon que le 

 notre, mais les Irlandais sont negligents. Notre lin est mis de suite dans 



