446 



0)1 the Cultivation of Flax. 



Having stated thus generally the importance of extending flax 

 culture in this country, and pointed out its advantages to the 

 farmer, and the benefits it would confer upon the agricultural 

 labourer, I now proceed to describe the mode of cultivation best 

 calculated for ensuring the perfect growth of the plant, and the 

 mode of preparing the fibre in its several stages until it becomes 

 fitted for the market; after which, I shall advert to the import- 

 ance of preserving and rightly using the seed. 



I must premise, however, that in these several processes there 

 is nothing more difficult to learn or to practise, than in the ordi- 

 nary operations of husbandry. In hand-scutching, for instance, 

 a person would find about as much difficulty at first, as on first 

 attempting to plough, or to use the scythe, the flail, or the sickle. 

 Each will be found more or less difficult, until familiarised by 

 practice. But there is this difference in the two cases — in most 

 operations of husbandry, considerable strength and muscular 

 energy are required, whilst in the preparation of flax, sharpness, 

 tact, and agility are the chief requisites ; and hence it is a species 

 of labour peculiarly fitted for women and young persons of both 

 sexes. A lad not more than 12 years old, was pointed out to me 

 at Trimingham as one of the best scutchers in the parish, and 

 he certainly handled the swingle, or scutching tool^ with per- 

 fect facility^ and seemed to take great pleasure in the occupation. 



It will, I think, be convenient to take the several operations in 

 the following order : — 



1st. The cultivation, which includes the preparation of the 

 land, sowing the seed, and weeding, and pulling the flax. 



2ndly. The preparation of the fibre, which includes the se- 

 veral processes of stooking, stacking, rippling, beetling, steeping, 

 spreading, lifting, breaking, and swingling or scutching. 



3rdly. The preservation and use of the seed. 



1st. Cultivation of the Flax, 



The growth of flax is not limited to any particular soil or situa- 

 tion. It flourishes in the light soil of Flanders, in the deep allu- 

 vial deposits of Holland, in the limestone and the peaty soils of 

 Ireland, and on almost, if not on every variety of land in England. 

 It has been grown on the Wicklow mountains a thousand feet 

 above the level of the sea, and has flourished even at that eleva- 

 tion on cold granitic moory soil, Vvhich in its natural state pro- 

 duced nothing but heath. Like our grain and other crops, flax 

 may show a preference for certain soils and situations, but it will 

 flourish and attain maturity in all, if proper care is bestowed on 

 its cullivation. 



The land must be clean and in good tilth. This is necessary 



