The Express.
London, England, 1867-08-21 00:00:00

FLAX cumrtrros IN IMILAILND.

A public meeting has been held in Belfast to
discuss tho desirability of forming an association for the
extension of the growth of flax in Ireland. Various com-
remind:ions from persons qualified to offends opinion upon
the subject were read at the opening of the proceedings.
A nobleman in the county of Gslway said—" So entirely
has the d.ix movement failed in this district that I have
disposed of my flax mill. Had the manufacturers in the
north made inquiries for the flax grown in the west and
thus instituted a market, the result of this movement
might have been different ; but such was not the case.
Flax brought to the local markets found no purchasers ;
and flax transmitted to the north was, if not undervalued,
at all events disposed of at a decided loss to the grower.
A nobleman in Leitrim, who has for sonic years de.
voted his efforts to the spread of fax culture among his
tountry, wrote :—" The farmer will pow the plant if he
finds a ready market for his produce, but he should bo
able to sell the plant as he would sell his cattle or his
corn. If the cultivation of flax is to be extended it can be
effected in one way—viz., buy the plant from the farmer,
and pay him fur it. Let the association confine them-
selves to the manufacture of the fibre from the straw and
to the parches* of the straw or the fibre in distant parts
of the country, so that the grower shall obtain ready and
fair payment for his produce. The association can, if they
think proper, obtain land with an abundant water supply
fit for watering the straw and manufacturing the fibre. In
@catching paid for by weight the scutcher leaves as many
shoves as he can in the fibre to make weight ;
and thus the farmer loses in every way, and
the market is supplied with an inferior article."
The following resolutions were unanimously passed:-
1. " That the formation of an association in Belted for
the purpose of improving the quality of the flax grown in
Ulster, and extending the cultivation of the crop else-
where, is calculated to be productive of much benefit, not
only to the trade in general, but also to the agricultural
community." 2. " That for the promotion of the genera/
aims of this association, it should co-operate as much as
possible with landlords, agricultural societies, and all
organisations which have taken, or may hereafter take,
practical steps for the extension and improvement of
flax culture. 3. " That, as one of the chief obstacles to
the growth of flax has hitherto been the difficulty of
sate in outlying districts, this association should take such
steps as would enable the femurs in those districts to dis-
pose of their crept, thnbast advantage." 4. "That in order
to facilitate the preparation of the flax for sale, this asso-
ciation should afford inch eucouragement as might be in its
power for the erection of scotching machinery in new dis-
tricts." 5. " That while encouraging the saving of home-
grown seed, chiefly for feeding purposes, the association
should afford all possible assistance to landlords and
farmers in procuring a supply of the best description of
foreign seeds far sowing on the most favourable terms."
Various details were agreed twat, and the meeting broke
up with strong anticipations of future success.