Irish Agriculture. 
41 
has been pushed rather too far in Ulster ; that is to say, it has 
been repeated too olten on the same land. This opinion is 
supportetl by the estimates of the produce of flax per acre in 
each of the provinces, as published by the Irish Registrar- 
General. Thus, in 1869, the relative production of flax, per 
acre, was as follows : — 
Ulster 24-58 stones 
Connauabt 25"18 „ 
I.einstor 30-49 „ 
Munster 34-45 „ 
The estimates of previous years also placed Ulster lowest in 
the scale as to production. In the other provinces, the cultiva- 
tion of flax is of recent date, having been stimulateil by the 
small annual grant from Government, to which reference has 
been previouslv made, varying from 2000/. to 4000/. per annum. 
The grant was first made in 1864, when it consisted of a sum of 
2000/. It was subsequently raised to 30(X)/., and then to 4000/. ; 
but it has latterlv been reduced to 2000/. It has been of great 
benefit to the districts where the instructing agriculturists were 
placed, and it is therefore hoped that the Government will con- 
tinue to encourage this very practical form of " technical educa- 
tion."' As an illustration of the results, I give the following 
particulars, showing the increase which has been made in the 
number of scutchingr-mills in the three provinces, exclusive of 
Ulster, since the grant was first made : — 
ScUTCHEfG-MrLLS. 
1861. 1870. Increase. 
Leinster 13 .. . 39 .. 26 
Munster 7 .. 39 .. 
Connaught 4 .. 31 .. 27 
Other proofs could easily be brought forward to show the 
stimulus which this small grant has given to agricultural and 
manufacturing industry in these provinces. 
One important defect in the management of the Irish flax 
crop is, neglecting to " ripple " or take off the seed before 
steeping the flax. Considering the great importance of pure 
linseed for feeding purposes, the loss sustained in this way 
amounts in value to a large sum ; and it has been estimated that 
little short of half a million sterling is annually wasted in con- 
sequence of steeping the flax grown in Ireland without first 
undergoing the process of rippling. The expense of rippling 
is the usual objection ; but ]\Ir. William Charlev, who is a 
manufacturer as well as a farmer, and whose work on flax is 
a standard authority, shows that although a somewhat expensive 
operation, still it returns a profit of at least cent, per cent. It is 
