Aug. 1, 1865.] THE TECHNOLOGIST. 
CULTIVATION OF FLAX IN CANADA. 15 
In 1846, the Commissioners of Excise were in doubt whether the 
asphalte felt, made of the raw hair of animals and the refuse of flax, 
and used for roofs and for sheathing ship's bottoms under the copper, 
did not come under the category of " paper," but the opinion of the law 
officers was against them. 
ON THE CULTIVATION OF FLAX IN CANADA. 
BY J. A. DONALDSON. 
The importance of the cultivation of this valuable plant in Canada has, 
of late years, occupied a large share of my attention, more especially 
since the failure of the wheat crop, which has unfortunately become so 
general. It will be acknowledged by all that agriculture and home com- 
merce are the pillars af national prosperity ; and when success attends 
the plough, the labourer and the artisan are employed. In proportion 
as agriculture is depressed, all the dependent branches of trade suffer ; 
and Canada being entirely an agricultural country, and labouring at 
present under great depression, universally acknowledged to be from the 
general failure of the wheat crop, it behoves, not only the farmer, but 
every member of the community, to apply himself and see if some 
remedy cannot be found, that may in some measure meet this serious 
evil. The farmer is recommmended to try many other descriptions of 
crops. Among these, hemp and tobacco present themselves. Both, no 
doubt, can be cultivated to great advantage, but flax has already been 
introduced to a very considerable. extent, and for the benefit of those who 
may not have given this valuable crop a share of their attention, it may 
be as well to state, as an inducement to others to follow the example, 
that not less than from eight to ten thousand acres were devoted to this 
crop in Upper Canada last year, (1864), and a number of enterprising 
parties have embarked not only in its cultivation, but in manufacturing 
the raw material into manufactured goods fit for consumption in our own 
country. 
The Messrs. Perine Bros, and Co., of Doon, whose operations extend 
nearly throughout the county of Waterloo, distributed seed to the far- 
mers for sowing to the extent of nearly three thousand acres last year. 
Col. Mitchell, of Norval, county of Halton, also furnished seed to a 
large number of farmers in his neighbourhood. Parties desirous of 
going into the cultivation or manufacture of this product, would do well 
to visit one or other of these establishments. At St. Mary's, St. Thomas, 
Elora, Stratford, London, Woodstock, Goderich, Weston, Whitby, Ux- 
bridge, Cobourg, Belleville, Kingston, Brookville, Mirrickville, New- 
castle, Matilda, and many other places, a good beginning has been made. 
