BRITISH AND IRISH FLAX CULTURE.-NO. 2. -THE ALPACA.-NO. 7. 
367 
BRITISH AND IRISH FLAX CULTURE.—No. 2. 
Nature and Preparation of the Soil , Sowing, fyc .— 
The most suitable soil for flax is a deep loam, or 
rich haugh, on a moist bottom, where the pores are 
not so close as in clay or till, and the strength of 
the soil fully equal to the food which the plant re¬ 
quires. Clayey land seems to be of too close a 
texture for its tender roots, and binds too much to 
allow the fibres to expand themselves in quest of 
nourishment. A light sandy soil, on the other 
hand, is too weak to bear a heavy crop, and is too 
much exhausted by it to render the lint crop a suf¬ 
ficient recompense for the chance of failure in the 
subsequent crops. On lands saturated either with 
underground or surface water, good flax cannot be 
expected. 
In those countries, in which the greatest quantity 
of flax is produced, the most favorite soil for this 
crop is on the banks of large and gentle-flowing 
rivers, which, by their flooding, have, in the course 
of ages, formed the richest and deepest mould. This 
may show us what is its native soil, and where it 
can be cultivated with the most profit. 
Preparing the Land , than which nothing can be 
more simple; for, if the field destined far flax has 
been plowed the full depth, previous to the frost, it 
will only be necessary to reduce the surface to a 
garden-like state, by harrowing, scarifying, and 
rolling; it being scarcely possible to render the 
land too fine. 
In order to ensure a first-rate crop, it will be 
necessary, during the above process, to sow six or 
eight bushels per acre of bone-dust, and about two 
cwt. of real guano, by which means they will be 
• intimately mixeU with the soil; or if bone-dust 
cannot be had, the guano might be increased to 
three or four cwt. per acre. But about eight loads 
of good farm-yard manure, well decomposed and 
mixed with mould, is much to be preferred. 
Where land is in a previously rich state, less ma¬ 
nure will, of course, be required ; but if it has only 
been slightly plowed, a repetition will be necessary, 
as well as of the scarifying, &c. Small pieces of 
grass and roots of weeds left by the harrows should 
be gathered up, and a light roll drawn over the 
land before. 
Sowing the Seed , in order that it may fall upon 
an even surface. Linseed is generally sown by 
hand; but this process is best performed by such 
machines as are used for grass seeds. Some prefer 
depositing the seed by a drill set at intervals of 
about seven inches ; a practice I at first adopted, 
but now discontinue in favor of the broad-cast 
system, because the stalks will grow to a greater 
length, and be more equal in size; nor is my land 
infested with any noxious weeds to render hoeing 
necessary. W here the seed is sown by the hand, 
the machine or the drill, it must not be deposited 
deep. Half, or one inch, in damp weather, and 
one and a half in dry, ought not to be exceeded. 
If seed and coarse flax are the aim, six pecks an 
acre will be sufficient; but if fine flax and seed, 
eight, ten, or twelve pecks will be necessary. It 
will be found in general that the greatest quantity 
will produce the most valuable fibre, but the least 
seed 
A sandy does not require so much seed as a 
heavy soil; but the inexperienced will find the 
most profitable crop to be that grown from six to 
eight pecks. Observe, if the drill is used, the 
creases should be filled up with a bush ; but if the 
seed is sown broad-cast, fine light harrows must be 
used. An extra turn or two, therefore, with the 
harrows, the roll, and the scarifier, beyond the re¬ 
quirements for barley, will be sufficient. It will 
also be found that, where the soil has been well 
prepared and cleaned, the cost for weeding flax will 
be very trifling; because, when the land is rich, the 
plants spring up with astonishing rapidity, and 
quickly overtop the small weeds. It is necessary, 
however, to remove the larger, but much injury is 
often done in the attempt to eradicate the smaller. 
As early in April as the weather will permit, is 
the best time for sowing ; for the earlier sown, 
the better the crop. Do not await perfect dryness 
in the soil, as the seed will vegetate more quickly 
when the ground is somewhat moist. 
Facts connected with the Flax Crop. —1st.—Under 
the improved system of husbandry, flax is not ex¬ 
hausting, but a highly restorative crop. 
2d.—If sown primarily for the seed, the value of 
the crop is equal to the average value of wheat, 
barley, and oats. 
3d.—Under experienced management, in every 
department, the crop is worth more than wheat. 
4th.—Flax will grow upon any soils that pro¬ 
duce grain, and upon soils where grain will not 
grow at all. 
5th.—The plant will flourish after any crop, 
turnips excepted, and probably carrots or mangel 
wurtzel. 
6th.—Flax has been grown upon my farm during 
the past six years in the following rotations, viz.: 
clover, stubble, flax, wheat, barley—wheat, flax, 
wheat, barley—wheat, barley, flax, barley—pota¬ 
toes, flax, turnips, wheat—wheat, potatoes, flax, 
turnips the same year, barley—and so on, the im¬ 
provement in each field being distinguishable. 
7th.—When wheat follows flax much less seed 
is required. 
8th.—The successful cultivation of the plant de¬ 
pends upon the preservation of the seed—a point 
hitherto not recognized either by the theory or 
practice of past or present times .—Condensed from 
Warnes’ Treatise. 
THE ALPACA.—No. 7. 
Domestication of Alpacas in Europe and in the 
United States. —The further introduction and domes¬ 
tication of the alpaca in Great Britain and Ireland, 
has been diligently and ably investigated by Mr. 
Walton, from whose treatise we give the following 
condensed account- 
In 1817, the late D. Bennet, Esq., of Farringdon 
House, Berks, received a pair of alpacas, and fed 
them, as he did his sheep, with hay and turnips in 
the winter. He found them hardy and healthy? 
and noticed that they required little care. From 
this stock he reared fifteen, of which the greatest- 
number he had in his possession at one time was 
eight. Generally the young ones passed into 
other hands. 
From Viscount Ingestre I was favored with th© 
following, under the date of May 31st:—In 
