408 On the Modes of Culture and Preparation of Flax, 
the concession for supplying and sending his rolling stock on the branch lines, 
he is authorised to levy a fixed sum of lid. for every ton for the first 
kilometre, and further -^d. for every ton per kilometre in addition to the first 
one, when the length of tlie branch line exceeds one kilometre. 
Every kilometre commenced will be paid for as if travelled over on its 
entire leugth. The holder of tlie concession will besides levy a fixed branch 
line tax of 2id. per ton ; from this tax may he exempted tlie owners of luorks 
and mines wJio have conirihuted hy a subsidy, accepted by the Prefect, to the 
construction of the line, after he has heard the statement of the holder of the 
concession. 
Loading or unloading on the branch lines will be paid for by the senders or 
the receivers, whether they do this work themselves or the railway company 
consents to do it for them. 
In this latter case, the expenses will be subject to a tariff established by the 
Prefect at the request of the holder of the concession. 
Every waggon forwarded by the holder of the concession on a branch line 
must be paid for as being completely loaded, even if it is not completely 
loaded. 
The extra load, if any, will be paid for according to the legal tariff, and at 
the pro rata of the real load ; the holder of the concession may refuse any load 
which exceeds the maximum of three thousand five hundred kilogrammes 
(ph tons), which is the load fixed as regards the actual dimensions of the waggons. 
The maximum will be revised by the Prefect so that it shall always bear a 
proper relation to the capacity of the waggons. 
XXV. — On the Modes of Culture and Preparation of Flax, as 
practised in Ireland and on the Continent. By MiCHAEL 
Andrews, Secretary of the Flax Supply Association for the 
Improvement of the Culture of Flax in Ireland. 
At the present time when agricultural operations in the United 
Kingdom are, owing to foreign competition and unfavourable 
harvests, becoming less remunerative than formerly, it behoves 
the farmer to seek some more profitable crop than he has 
hitherto admitted into his rotation. With regard to cereals, it 
is pretty generally admitted that foreign countries can produce 
them cheaper than can be done in the United Kingdom, even 
Avith the advantage of the facilities derived from the use of 
steam-power as a substitute for manual- and horse-labour. Hops 
only flourish in certain localities that are congenial to their 
growth, and they also have strong rivals to contend with abroad, 
and are at home burdened with heavy imposts. The revival of 
tobacco culture has been recently mooted, but this crop is not 
likely to take root in Great Britain. 
The cultivation of flax has been attended with considerable 
success in the province of Ulster in Ireland ; it is peculiarly 
adapted to a temperate climate, and when carefully grown and 
judiciously handled is a paying crop. On the Continent, the 
