140 



FLAX FARMING ON THE CONTINENT. [Sept. 189V 



exception of 10 acres, was returned for Eagiisli counties, and 

 mainly from Somersetshire and Yorkshire. Twenty years ago 

 about 12,000 acres of flax were cultivated in England, but the 

 area has steadily declined since the eady seventies. 



The imports of flax fibre and tow into the United Kingdom 

 in the five years 1890-94 are shown below, distinguishing 

 the countries contributing to the supply of each yesjY. 





1890. 



1891. 



1892. 



1893. 



1894. 



Dressed or Undressed Flax. 





Cwts. 



Cwts. 



Cwts. 



Cwts. 



Cwts, 



From Russia - 



1,195,115 



1,010,510 



1,070,485 



895,800 



997,380 



„ Germany - 



26,932 



33,483 



31,310 



49,660 



42,280 



„ Holland - 



91,456 



78,674 



79,538 



69,220 



38,340 



„ Belgium - 



221,296 



277,548 



255,270 



218,560 



136,300 



„ France - 



8,685 



9,914 



11,602 



6,480 



7,220 



„ other Countries - 



38,365 



63,006 



19,876 



4,680 



17,020 



Total - 



1,581,849 



1,473,135 



1,468,081 



1,244,400 



1,238,540 



Tow or CODILLA. 





Cwts. 



Cwts, 



Cwts. 



Cwts. 



Cwts. 



From Russia - 



138,023 



130,578 



146,673 



102,360 



121,980 



„ Germany - 



3,066 



11,128 



22,077' 



20,120 



13,220 



„ Holland • 



7,007 



8,430 



22,617 



33,460 



17,300 



„ Belgium - 



67,000 



40,986 



59,657 



37,000 



36,460 



„ France 



3,128 



7,246 



13,936 



8,020 



6,260 



„ other Countries - 



396 



1,440 



53 





260 



Total - 



218,620 



205,808 



265,013 



200,960 



195,480 



The average annual import of flax seed during the past five 

 years has amounted to nearly 2,000,000 quarters. 



