462 



On the Cultivatioyi of Flax. 



This may be considered a large profit from one acre of land, 

 perhaps too large to be reckoned on for a certainty, or for a per- 

 manence ; yet higher estimates are given, even as much as 28/. 

 and 30/. per acre. Other estimates have, no doubt, been given 

 lower, some considerably lower ; but, looking to the defective 

 management on which these were founded, they can hardly apply 

 to the improved system which it is the object of this article to 

 recommend. Making every allowance, therefore, for unfavourable 

 seasons, and the other contingencies to which flax-growing, in 

 common with all other agricultural operations is subject, a profit 

 of 10/. or 12/. per acre may, I think, be reasonably expected by 

 the grower of flax, provided he attends properly to the business, 

 and makes the most of the fibre and the seed. 



In corroboration of this estimate, I insert the following state- 

 ment by Mr. Samuel Druce, of Ensham, near Oxford, of the 

 outlay and returns upon 4 acres 1 rood and 24 perches of land 



cultivated with flax under his management.* 



Outlay. 



at 



Rent and taxes 



Ploughing 4 a. 1 r. 24 p. 



IO5. per acre .... 2 4 



lOi bushels seed, at 7s. 6ci. . 3 18 



Sowing, harrowing, and weeding 1 12 



Pulling, tying, thrashingjSpread- 

 ing, and preparing for scutch- 

 ing, at 3O5. per acre 



Carting and stacking . 



1455 Ibs.tlax scutched, 

 at2rf. perlb. . £12 



372 lbs. tow scutched, 

 at \d. per lb. . .111 



6 12 

 1 15 



2 6 



0 



-13 13 6 



£10 15 3 



Returns. 



£. s. d. 



1349 lbs. flax, sold by Mr. 



Schwan, deducting expenses 25 10 

 106 lbs. flax, sold in Ensham 2 13 

 372 lbs. tow, do. do. 4 13 

 104 bushels seed, worth in the 



market 7s. Qd. per bushel . 39 0 

 Tail linseed, and chaff and re- 

 fuse, after scutching . . I 10 



Deduct outlay 



73 6 

 40 15 



Profit on 4 A. 1 r. 24 p., being 

 at the rate of about 8/. per 

 acre £32 11 3 



This appears to be a detailed statement of the actual payments 

 and receipts, and although it shows a less profit per acre than we 

 have estimated above, it yet comes sufficiently near to be cited as a 

 kind of corroboration. Mr. Druce describes himself as a young 

 beginner in flax culture," and it is certain that the quantity which 

 he obtained per acre (viz., 23 stone) is little more than half the 

 average produce. His flax is moreover described as being of 

 very inferior quality, which, indeed, is proved by the lov,^ price it 



per cwt. for the finest sort, 70^. for the second quality, Q'os. for the third, 

 and 53s. for the coarsest. This last thus fetched 55. Id. per stone, and the 

 finest kind IO.9. I^d. per stone ; and it would have fetched considerably 

 more, the quality of the fibre being much approved, but that it was defec- 

 tive in colour, owing to imperfect management in steeping, an error that 

 will be avoided in future. 

 * See ' The Wiltshire Independent' of February 4, 1847. 



