435 



not always the case with cake. It may be urged that, pro- 

 vided all the seed and solid refuse of the stem be returned 

 to the land, yet still that a considerable portion of the soluble 

 inorganic matter contained in the woody part of the straw 

 is lost in the process of steeping. That the steep-water, 

 after the immersion of the flax, does contain an appreciable 

 quantity of fertilizing matter, is notorious, from the analysis 

 of it made by Sir Richard Kane, and the experiments de- 

 tailed by Mr. Dickson ; yet still, if proper economy be 

 practised, these fertilizing ingredients need not be lost, 

 but the steeping-ponds so placed as readily to admit of the 

 water being used for irrigation. I understand, however, 

 that an improved and more speedy method of preparing 

 the stem has lately been discovered, by means of tanks 

 containing hot water, which may be so saturated with the 

 rich salts extracted from the flax, as to pay the expense 

 of leading it in barrels on the land, and using it as liquid 

 manure. I look forward to still greater discoveries being 

 made in the preparatory modes of separating the fibre from 

 the woody matter, and cannot help hoping that Chemistry 

 may, at some future period, lend her valuable aid in ac- 

 complishing that object more speedily and economically — 

 something in a similar manner to the modern process of 

 bleaching. 



Having now, I trust, advanced sufficient to show that the 

 growth of flax is not necessarily an exhausting process, when 

 conducted on proper principles, I shall next proceed to the 

 consideration. Whether it is a profitable crop to the farmer ? 



The expenses of growing flax have been variously estimated, 

 — by some much too high, and by others below, what I con- 

 ceive to be the real truth. The proper medium I believe to 

 be about £12 per statute acre, taking into consideration the 

 whole operations, from the preparation of the land to the 



I I 



