458 



071 the Cultivation of Flax, 



certainly facilitate the process, and render it both cheaper and 

 quicker ; but they occasion more waste, and on the whole, if there 

 be a sufficiency of hands for the purpose, hand-scutching is I 

 think to be preferred to every other mode, especially where the 

 quantity is not very considerable. In Ireland, notwithstanding 

 the existence of mills, so important is hand- scutching deemed, 

 that the Irish Flax Improvement Society have instituted a school 

 for teaching the practice, under the superintendence of one of 

 their chief instructors. They also furnish scutching-tools of the 

 most approved construction, and send trained instructors into the 

 several districts to teach the people — an example worthy of being 

 followed in this country. 



With scutching the process of preparation is completed, and 

 the flax is then laid by ready for the market, each bundle being 

 slightly twisted to keep it distinct, and prevent the fibre tangling. 

 It is always important, with a view to the price^ that flax of dif- 

 ferent lengths and different qualities should as far as possible be 

 kept separate ; for if indiscriminately mixed, it will not sell for so 

 much as if it were divided into distinct lots of equal length and 

 quality. 



The farmer may select his own time for disposing of his flax. 

 Should no market be conveniently near, factors or agents will 

 find him out, and be ready to purchase his flax, as they now pur- 

 chase his wool ; so that he need give himself little concern about 

 selling, provided the article be of good quality^ for such will always 

 be in demand. 



The course of management just described, is the one most 

 approved of wherever flax is most successfully cultivated. It is the 

 mode practised in Belgium, where flax is generally kept till the 

 second, and sometimes till the third year before it is steeped, 

 and is considered to be improved both in colour and quality 

 by keeping. It is likewise the mode generally practised in 

 Holland, and is becoming more and more practised in Ireland, 

 under the auspices of the Flax Improvement Society. 



The management of the little flax hitherto grown in England, 

 has been for the most part so imperfect and void of system, as to 

 make it difficult to say exactly what has been the prevalent prac- 

 tice ; but it is certain that here, as in Ireland, and to some extent 

 even in Holland and Germany, growers have been accustomed, 

 immediately the flax is pulled, to throw it into the steeping-holes 

 with the seed on, and to complete the other processes forthwith, 

 so as to get it to market as speedily as possible. 



Now there can be no doubt that good flax may be obtained by 

 steeping green ; and by sendmg it to market the year it is grown. 



