IRISH MANUFACTURES. 313 
therefore, be a ready market for twice the quantity of flax grown last 
year, supposing the machinery then existing to remain the same. But 
in fact the manufacture of linen is progressing with unexampled rapidity. 
Mr. Baker gives the number of spindles working in Ireland in May, 
1864, as 665,442, but, at the close of 1864, this number had increased 
to 761,060. These, with the English and Scotch mills, would demand 
152,550 tons of dressed flax, or a quantity fully equal to the home pro- 
duction and imports from abroad in 1864. In foreign countries, too, 
flax spinning has increased 426 per cent, in ten years, and is 
still more rapidly progressing. . It is evident from the figures that if 
Ireland produced three times the quantity of flax grown in 1864 there; 
would be a ready sale for it for home consumption and exportation. 
The English inspectors of factories believe that a less extent of land, 
will be sown with flax in the present year than in 1864. The produce 
of the last flax crop was, in general, abundant in quantity but deficient 
in quality. The Irish inspectors attribute this to " late sowing," " in*; 
sufficient preparation of the soil, and want of care in weeding the crop." 
The English inspectors to monetary difficulties and an unfavourable; 
season. i 
The Government have determined, to continue the grant for Govern- 
ment instructors. From the report on the statistics of flax culture in. 
Connaught and Munster in 1865, by W. Neilson Hancock, LL.D., it is 
proved that the decline which took place in the production of flax in 
Ulster, in 1865, compared with 1864 is not peculiar to that year. Itk 
the last sixteen years there was a decrease in acreage in seven years at 
different times, and an increase in nine years, but, on the whole, the, 
growth of flax increased from 60,314 acres in 1849 to 251, 534 in 1865, 
being an increase of over 300 per cent, in sixteen years. 
The increase in the growth of flax in Connaught, from 1861 to 1863, 
when no Government aid was granted, was only 986 acres, but in 1864 
with Government aid the increase was 6,110 acres. There was a de- 
crease of thirteen per cent, in 1865, "But this year's crop if compared 
with that of 186 1 shows an increase of 254 per cent. Similarly, in 
Munster, from 1861 to 1863, when no Government aid was given, the 
whole increase was only 908 acres, but with Government aid in 1864 
the increase was 2,398 acres. Although there was a diminution of 
flax culture in 1865 as compared with 1864, the statistics prove that the 
Government encouragement has worked most successfully, and that its 
assistance may be expected to be advantageous. 
The greatest exertions are being made to extend the cultivation of 
flax in England, but the Irish farmer has only to sow early, to prepare 
his ground carefully, and to give the crop Ordinary care, to secure ample 
remuneration. The farmer whose expectations were not fully answered 
last year should hope for a more favourable result next year. He does 
not abandon the culture of any other crop because it may not have ful- 
filled his hopes in one year. In general all the flax grown in Ireland 
