On the Cultivation of Flax. 



445 



interval of employment. Indeed, such intervals will then be less 

 frequent, for flax may be worked at any time, winter or summer, 

 and in any weather, and will thus supply a great desideratum by 

 rendering employm.ent continuous. 



Such has been the result at Trlminghara, in Norfolk, where 

 the labourers used to be frequently out of work ; but since the 

 cultivation of flax has been introduced into that parish, every one 

 finds employment, and the poor-rates have been reduced nearly 

 one-half within the last three or four years — not, however, it 

 must be observed, throug^h the direct employment afforded by 

 the preparation of flax alone, but likewise by the use of the seed 

 in fattening cattle and in making manure, by which the quantity 

 of other crops has been greatly increased, and the amount of 

 employment proportionably extended. On all these accounts, 

 therefore, the cultivation of flax cannot be too strongly urged 

 upon our agriculturists of every class. 



In Belgium flax is called ''the Golden Crop," and in Ireland 

 it is called '' the Rent-paying Crop." There is much truth in 

 both these designations, which I have no doubt would be equally 

 applicable to this country, if the same attention were here paid 

 to its cultivation. 



It has been disputed whether flax is most to be valued for its 

 seed or for the fibre. The zealous agriculturist stickles for the 

 seed, as affording the means of fattening his cattle, and providing 

 manure for his land. The manufacturer, on the contrary, con- 

 tends for the fibre, and cites the high price which flax of superior 

 quality commands in the market. Both parties are perhaps cor- 

 rect in their estimate of the great value of each portion of the 

 produce, and flax might possibly be cultivated for either the one 

 or the other singly with advantage ; but there is no necessity for 

 such a separation — the seed and the fibre may both be obtained 

 without injury to the quality of either, and flax will thus become 

 a double crop, equal, if not superior, in value to any other which 

 can be raised from the land. 



Various estimates have been formed of the profits to be ob- 

 tained by flax culture, ranging from six and eight, to ten, fifteen, 

 and twenty pounds per acre, and even still higher. Of this more 

 will be said hereafter, and it is only necessary here to observe, 

 that the flax crop, under average circumstances, affords such a 

 reasonable expectation of adequate return, as will warrant any 

 prudent farmer occupying suitable land, to enter upon its culti- 

 vation. Before doing so, however, he ought to obtain all requi- 

 site information for enabling him properly to conduct the ma- 

 nagement in its several stages, and this information it will be my 

 endeavour in the following pages to aftbrd. 



