The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-22 00:00:00

cumstances are now altered. It was not then pro•
I fitable on a large scale, but now the demand for flax
for manufacturing linen alone is ;Almost boundless.
Its exportation is immense, and a great question is
pending, but it is unsettled, whether flax many not be
favourably mixed with wool and cotton in textile
fabrics. If that should turn out successful, then the
growth of flax will be prudent on the part of agri-
culturists. The difficulty is this :—you are aware
that the seed of the flax, for the purpose of nourish-
ing the soil, is infinitely preferable to oilcske or any
other of the refuse portion of the flax-seed; but if
you use the flax seed itself, mixed with other articles
of food, such as chopped hay or warmed food of any
kind, the linseed itself is the most productive, the
most fattening, and the most remunerative in its re-
turn to the soil. The seed of the flax, therefore, for
the improvement of the soil is the best growth that
the farmer can encourage. Then comes the question
of straw. The straw is bulky, and requires difficult
manipulation and handling; and I do not consider the
conversiog of the flax into straw is the proper busi-
ness of the farmer—it is the duty and business of the
manufacturer.—(Hear, hear.) The process is two-
fold; first, that which takes from the straw the sub-
stance which adds to its outward bulk; that may be
done by a machine whioh is not very costly; then
comes the more difficult process, the separation of
the fibre, which is bound together by a glutinous sub-
stance, which must be dissolved before the flax itself,
in its textile shape can be obtained. As yet this sepa-
ration has been achieved only by a very difficult and
tedious, as well as a very expensive process—by wets,
ting in pools of stangnant cold water. Lately, int.
Ireland, important imprcvements have been intro-
duced, and the separ.staft is effected by the use of
boiling water, and by a certain chemical process. A
still more recent discovery has been made, about
which I will not speak as yet with perfect confidence,
but of which I can venture to speak with hope. It
is the invention of M. Claussen, a Frenchman, and, if
it succeed, it will render the operation of dissolving
the gluten from the fibre of the flax a work of only
two or three hours. It is a chymical process, which
M. Claussen has patented, and there is a very san-
guine hope that it will be so successful as to enable
flax to be prepared for the manufacturer at a small
cost and very readily. If I have made myself intel-
ligible, it is plain that the straw cannot be conveyed
to a great distance to undergo this process, and that
the manufacturer must be brought to the door of the
farmer.—(Hear, hear.) Such is the enterprise, the
skill, and I would almost say the patriotism of the
manufacturing interest of this country—not with-
out reference to gain, but combined with gain,
which is the real incentive of all improvement—that
if you can show that any such process will pay
the manufacturer, that manufacturer of the raw
material will establish a mill in the neighbour-
hood ; and I hold it to be one of the duties of land-
lords to ascertain whether this mode of dealing with
flax be not feasible, and if it be feasible, to make an
effort to introduce in their neighbourhood the ma-
chinery and the manufacture requisite fur the ex-
tended growth of so important and useful a crop as
flax.—(Cheers.) This is tedious, but still these are
matters of great importance—matters bound up with
our present welfare and with the future prosperity
and happiness of the great community of which we
form a part.—(Hear, hear.) I stn among the first to
admit that the basis of our national prosperity is the
produce of the soil.—(Loud cheers.) If it were not
so I should be poor indeed, for al I possess is in land,
and in land of this county ; you, therefore, have the
utmost pledge of my sincerity, and my wish to pro-
mote the welfare of the agriculture of this county—
(Hear, hear)—but you must have it in a manner co-
incident with the welfare of the community; and
these are the objects and these the modes in which
to attain that end. Societies of this kind appear to
me to have that tendency, and I was delighted to
hear a sentiment which fell from you, Mr. Vice-
Chairman.—(Cheers.) You said you did not despair
of the prosperity of the agricultural interest.—
(Cheers.) You said that agriculturists must meet
increased difficulties with increased exertions.—
(Cheers.) You added that Heaven always favours
those who help themselves, and that the agricultural
interest would not be the last interest to make the
requisite exertion.—(Cheers) It is only necessary
that the exertion should be well directed. It is the
duty of landlords to lead the way in respect to all
these improvements and experiments ; the landlords
of England must not be left behind in the race of
exertion, and, if we be a united body, then I say,
"Nought shall make us rue,
If England to itself do rest but true."
—Loud cheers.)
Several other toasts wars subsequently proposed,
and the most perfect cordiality and good humour
marked the proceedings, the speeches, as Sir J. Gra-
ham observe,i, in acknowleding the toast of the Agri-
cultural Society of England, "savouring of anything
hut despondency with respect to the future prospects
of agriculture."