as practised in Ireland and on the Continent. 
421 
Further particulars might be given regarding the mode of 
tilling the land, &c., but such details would be only adapted to 
a treatise on general agriculture ; and it is inferred that any 
farmer commencing to grow flax would have such a knowledge 
of the agricultural department as would enable him to carry out 
the special methods alluded to in the foregoing pages. 
With regard to the cost of culture and preparation of flax, it 
would be difficult to give a definite statement, as there are so 
many contingencies to take into account, such as rent of land, 
cost of labour in different localities, the variable price of seed, 
&c. ; but the minimum cost of growing the crop and preparing 
the fibre for market could not be under 10/. per statute acre. 
The yield per acre of fibre is the chief element upon which the 
paying of the crop depends, and is most fluctuating, being, like 
all other crops, dependent upon good culture and season ; but 
high-class farmers usually obtain such a produce as makes this 
crop remunerative beyond the average of other products of the 
soil. The only country from which a reliable average could be 
obtained is Ireland, and the average yield in this country is so 
low, that to found any calculation upon it would mislead. 
Before entering into the various artificial modes of flax pre- 
paration, which have been so frequently brought before the 
public, a few observations relating to the manner in which 
the cultivation of flax and its preparation are prosecuted on the 
Continent may be of interest. 
In Belgium agricultural pursuits are carried on with a care 
and attention not known in any other European country, to 
which may be attributed that success in husbandry for which 
the Belgian farmer has acquired a world-wide reputation. Flax 
forms a very important crop in that country, and a fibre is pro- 
duced which, for excellence of quality, is not to be found else- 
where. The finest and strongest flax is produced on loamy 
land, but selection of soil is considered subordinate to good 
tillage. Land intended to be , sown in flax the succeeding year 
is ploughed in October and November out of corn stubble after 
a root-crop. Some time before sowing, which usually takes 
place from the 20th of February till the end of March, the land 
is dressed with powdered colza-cake, and watered with liquid 
manure. The quantity of seed sown per acre is greater than 
in Ireland, being 7 bushels to the hectare, or 2^ bushels per 
statute acre. When the crop is abraird, if considered too thick 
it is thinned by weeding out some of the plants. Great atten- 
tion is given to the removal of all weeds, and as soon as they 
appear they are pulled out. During the early part of its growth 
the flax-crop is nourished by the application of liquid manure, 
which consists of house-sewage, preserved in towns, and sold to 
