398 



On the Cultivation of Flax. 



growth ill Ireland has increased considerably since that period, as 

 the natural quality of the fibre is so much superior to the bulk of 

 the import. There is no branch of British manufacture where the 

 connexion between the agricultural and manufacturing interests is 

 so direct, and no case where greater common benefit would be 

 derived than from the extended cultivation of flax in these coun- 

 tries. At the present time, when the late changes in the laws 

 regulating the import of foreign grain have brought the food-pro- 

 duce of all parts of the world into direct competition with the 

 fruits of British soil, it is worthy of attention, tliat a vast number 

 of countries are formidable rivals to us, from the suitability of 

 their climate and soil for the growth of the cereal grasses; while 

 with respect to flax, very few can compete on these grounds^ and 

 the amount of labour required in this culture effectually prevents 

 any country, where there is not a superabundance of population, 

 from producing it to any extent. 



In conclusion, after reviewing the entire question, I am strongly 

 of opinion, that the judicious introduction of this crop, managed 

 according to the improved system, into districts suited for it, 

 taking into account all the circumstances, already noticed, as 

 favouring it in peculiar localities, would be productive of great 

 benefit to British agriculture, in furnishing a valuable marketable 

 produce, — in the economy of cattle-feeding and the production of 

 manure, — and in the utilization of otherwise unproductive labour 

 among a section of the working classes for whom it has been found 

 very difficult to obtain work ; while the nation, generally, would 

 benefit from the retention, in future, of the large sums hitherto 

 annually paid to foreigners for flax, flax seed, and oil- cakes, and 

 the improvement in different branches of native manufacture by 

 which it would necessarily be accompanied. 



APPENDIX. 



Laboratory of the ' 

 Chemico-AgricuUuial Society of Ulster, 

 Belfast, April 26, 1847. 

 Dear Sir, — I inclose you a statement of the composition of the flax 

 Soils from Belgium, and also of the water of the river Lys, which you for- 

 warded to me for analysis. — I remain yours very truly, 



John F. Hodges, 

 Cliemist C. A. Society. 



Soil No. 1, from Courtrai. — Colour yellow brown, sandy; contained numerous 

 white particles of carbonate of lime, and also some briclc-red grains resembling pieces of 

 decomposed sandstone. Its composition in 100 parts was as follows : — (See page 368.) 



Soil No. 2, from Lokeren, in the Waes district, was of a greyish-brown colour, 

 and appeared to consist of a fine white sand mixed with dark grains, and also some 

 reddish mineral particles. It had the following composition in 100 parts : — (See 

 page 368.) 



