Some Minor Farm Crops. 
139 
greatest demand, but there is necessarily a lack of uniformity 
in the quality of the fibre produced. Strong reason was found 
for the belief that the judicious revival of the flax industry 
would be productive of benefit to British agriculture, and 
would afford people an opportunity of finding regular employ- 
ment in rural districts by creating a new demand for skilled 
labour in those parts. There was found very reasonable founda- 
tion for the belief that the revival could be accomplished most 
satisfactorily by the establishment of central retting depots in 
suitable districts to which the harvested crops could be sold by 
farmers, and at which the after processes could be conducted 
according to the most approved methods and thereby ensure 
greater uniformity in the quality of the resulting fibre. 
The possibility of cultivating and separating the fibre at a 
fair profit to both farmer and factor cannot readily be decided, 
although the general evidence obtained is undoubtedly favour- 
able to such enterprise. It was suggested that practical trials 
on a moderate commercial scale should be instituted as being 
the only way of obtaining the definite knowledge required as 
to the profitableness or otherwise of reviving the flax industry 
under present conditions. It was recommended that small 
retting depots be established out of public funds in Yorkshire 
and in Somerset. Such establishments managed on strictly 
business lines for a few years would enable the required 
information to be gained. The possibilities opened up if the 
scheme proved successful were held to be ample justification 
for its serious trial. 
The favourable manner in which these recommendations 
have been received by the Development Commissioners has led 
to the formation this year of a society, not trading for profit — 
The British Flax and Hemp Growers’ Society — the principal 
object of which is to give effect to the recommendations above 
referred to by organising and carrying Out the necessary 
practical trials on a commercial scale by means of a grant from 
the Development Fund. In addition to this, the collecting 
together of trustworthy information bearing upon flax and 
hemp culture and treatment, as well as the dissemination of 
such information, are among the other objects of the Society. 
The programme of work entered upon this year may be 
divided into three parts, viz. : the growth and treatment of the 
line crop ; the cultivation of linseed ; and the isolation of 
improved strains of flax both for fibre production and for seed 
production. With regard to the first of these, arrangements 
have been made for the equipment of two central retting 
stations — one at Selby, and one near Yeovil ; and in these 
localities suitable areas have been devoted to raising flax as a 
line crop, so as to provide material with which to work out a 
