On the Cultivation of Flax. 



399 



Soil No. 3, from Ypres. — Colour somewhat lighter than No. 2; sandy ; contained 

 grains of carbonate of lime, and also some pieces of charcoal and decomposed sand- 

 stone of a yellowish-brown colour. Its composition was as follows : — (See page 36S.) 



Remarks, — The composition of the above soils certainly ]jresents no- characters 

 which should induce us to regard them as peculiarly fertile. Even when large quan- 

 tities of the soils were taken, but minute traces of ])hosphoric acid were observed. If 

 therefore these analyses may be regarded as repve^enting the usual character of the 

 soils of Belgium, we must conclude that their superior productiveness is to be attri- 

 buted rather to tl;e skilful management of its mdustrious husbandmen, and the 

 attention wliich they devote to ttie application of proper manures, than to any natural 

 superiority of composition. In all tne soils examined the amount of lime was con- 

 siderable ; and to Soils Nos. 2 and 3 it appeared to have been largely applied. This 

 circumstance confirms the opinion which I have frequently expressed, that there is 

 nothing in the composition of tlie soils of the great central limestone plain of Ireland 

 likely to prove injurious to the flax plant. In the celebrated flax districts of Courtrai, 

 Ypres, and Lokeren, from which the samples of soil were selected, I find that the fields 

 from which they were taken had produced, for the two years preceding the flax crop, 

 1st, potatoes, upon farm-yard manure; 2ud, a crop of wheat, without manure. In the 

 third year, for the flax crop, the ground was manured witii cow-dung and necessary 

 dung, or the refuse of rape-seed. 



The Water of the river Lys. — The "water was forwarded in a carefully-secured jar, 

 and wlien received was quite fiesh. It appeared muddy from a flocculent matter, 

 which subsided upon standing. The sediment was examined by a powerful microscope, 

 and when magnified 240 times lineally, was seen to consist of vegetable matter and 

 the remains of numerous flax fibres. It also contained numerous species of infusory 

 animalcules. The water, evaporated to dryness, exhaled a strong flax odour. — For 

 analysis, see page 37 S. 



Remarks. — There is certainly nothing in the composition of the above v.ater, 

 judging from its inorganic elements, to distinguish it from many streams and rivers in 

 our own country. The amount of solid matter is indeed larger than is usually met 

 with in our waters, and might be supposed likely to injure its qualities for steeping. 

 In Belgium, however, the water of the Lys is recognised as peculiarly valuable for this 

 purpose. A consideration of the nature of the organic matter contained in the -water 

 appears to indicate the proper direction in which our inquiries should extend. It is 

 singular that the sample of water examined, which is stated to have been taken from 

 the middle of the river, 300 yards above Courtrai, should contain at the present season 

 so large an amount of decomposing vegetable matter, chiefly the remains of the flax 

 plant. May not the water, charged with decomposing flax matter, be in the proper 

 condition to commence and facilitate the decomposition by which tlie separation of the 

 flax fibre is produced ? 



XV. — Observations on the Xatural History and Economy of a 

 Weevil affecting the Pea-crops, and various Insects ichich injure 

 or destroy the Many old- wiirzel and Beet. By John Curtis, 

 F.L.S., Corresponding ]M ember of the Imperial and Royal 

 Georgofili Society of Florence: of the Academv of Xatural 

 Sciences of Philadelphia, <S:c. 



Paper XIII. 



CuRCULio (Otiorhyxchus) riciPEs. The pitchy-le^nfed 



V\ eevii. 



Iv my last Essay the history of two weevils was detailed which 

 cause great mischief to the early pea- crops, and attack the broad- 



