Aug. 1, 1865.] THE TECHNOLOGIST. 
FLAX IN CANADA. 21 
I do hope the Treaty may continue in force, but it is well to be prepared 
for all contingencies. Taking this view of the subject, the cultivation 
of the flax plant commends itself strongly to the notice of the promoters 
of the temperance cause, for neither fibre nor seed can be converted 
into any kind of intoxicating drinks. Linseed oil is extracted from the 
seed ; while an article of food for cattle is also produced in the shape of 
oil-cake. 
The fibre can be converted into a hundred different kinds of the 
most useful descriptions of goods in common use in the country, and of 
which we are large consumers ourselves, such as coarse linen of every 
description, brown hollands, bed-tick, linen drills, shoe threads, counter 
twines, whipcord, plough lines, bed-cords, ropes, coarse twines, in fact, 
cordage of every kind. On all such goods we are paying a duty of 
twenty per cent., which will be saved ; while at the same time a new 
field of industry is thrown open where artizans and labourers will find 
ready employment. 
The success of Messrs. Perine Bros, and Co., of Doon, and Col." Mit- 
chell, of Norval, with others engaged in this new and valuable branch 
of Canadian industry, furnishes evidence sufficient to satisfy the most 
incredulous mind that this is one of the finest countries in the world to 
commence operations of this kind. The Messrs. Perine commenced 
only a few years ago with a few acres which they induced the farmers 
to grow for them, by offering the seed for sowing in the spring, and pro- 
mising they would have a mill in operation in the fall of the same year, 
which would enable them to purchase from the farmers both seed and 
fibre. Since then it is well known they have largely increased their 
operations, and are at the present time carrying on no less than eight 
scutching mills in the county of Waterloo, in addition to a large linen 
manufactory, for which they deserve all credit. At Norval, Col. Mit- 
chell, although not so extensively engaged, and carrying the business on 
a somewhat different principle, has invested largely in vats for steeping 
purposes, and is at this moment getting in machinery for spinning and 
weaving. It is very desirable for parties interested in the welfare of 
this country to visit either or both of these establishments. What has 
been done in the counties of Waterloo and Halton can be done else- 
where, and there need be no apprehension, for years to come, that we 
are going to produce more than we will consume. The articles produced 
are all staple goods, and in constant use. Our neighbours on the other 
side of the lines are alive to this new project. Only two years ago the 
Government offered the handsome sum of 20,000 dols. for the encourage- 
ment of the cultivation of flax in a single State. The Messrs. Barber 
Bros, and Co., of Lisburn, in the North of Ireland, known to be the 
largest linen thread manufacturers in the world, perhaps, are erecting a 
manufactory at a place called Patterson, nearly opposite New York, at 
a cost of some fifty or sixty thousand pounds sterling, for the purpose 
of commencing operations of a similar character with their present 
