The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1819-10-05
CoMMUNICATIoN
From the Committee Of Publications Of the AZ.
ridtlturaL Society q Maine.
NJ
(BYA MEMBER OF THB SOCIETY

(BY A MEMBER OF TIKI SOCIETY,"
When vegetable materials are employed either
in this country or ia Europe, for the fabrication OF
CLOTH cordage, strings, or thread; the articles a
dopted for the purpose are usually hemp, flax, or
cotton; each according to the case. The climate
Of Maine admits the cultivation only of the two
former but its soil allows these to be raised in
great abundance and of an excellent quality
though unfortunately they are not prepared here
on a right plan.-lt'is OF moment consequently,
that attention should be paid to some English dis
coveries said to have been recently made in pre-.
pairing these articles that we may be enabled TO
place fax and hemp in the list Of the staple en-
ports ofour District of which we have as yet few,
besides eur cattle and the productions OF our for
ests.
The customary mode Of preparing both fax and
hemp for the market, has usually hitherto been IN
the first instance, by getting rid of the rind or
bark, by means either of their being stepped in
water, or of an exposure to moist atmosphere /;
but for reasons soon to be offered. it seems abun-
dainty more eligible to free the bTss Of these two
plants from their useless APPENDICES, by means
of machinery alone.--Propossls have recently
been made by different Englishmen for carrying
this plan into effect, under the name OF the dry
method or process.
Mr.. John Lee, an Englishman, about seven
years since obtained patent IN England for dry
.
since be was allowed, by express act Of Far
lament, to keep the specification OF his patent
secret for seven years. Some OF the machinery
which he used however not answering the public
expectation he made a considerable change ia 1t.
Others Of his countrymen likewise exhibited ma
chinery which was said not to interfere with his
claims and part Of the machinery produced is
even affirmed to have been described III old
edition of Chambers Cyclopeda. Finally Mes
srs. I'LL and Bundy (also Of England) ale said 10
have brought forw ard some machinery which
much exceeds that Of Nlr. Lee. even OF his inn
proved kind-It should be added nevertheless,
that though Mr.. Lee has disappointed the public
il some Of his machinery, yet he has had the
merit of creating an universal attention 30 the
subject at large and farther that he has always
protested to whten has fax, without the aid OF
any chemical process whatever.
\ The apparent advantages aimed at by these
different methods have drawn the attention OF
the British Legislature TO the subject; and Sc
lect Committee which had the matter brought
before Hincidentaly, made Report May %,
1917. which includes some very interesting gene
raj facts and principles on the question al large
Should the evidence offered TO this Committee,
be credited in its full extent. it would seem pos
sible so to improve the usual produce from 20.
900 acres. supposed to be devoted TO hemp and
flax IN Great Britain and Ireland, in each year
as that the crop might yield 10000 tons Of clear fl
bre, instead Of 81, 797 tons, as at present. Ihi:
difference it is pretended may put in motion above
% millions sterling provided manufacturing Ia
Dor, &c. be included; or more than 400 mIiiiop
of dollars. By means OF other more moderate
documents exhib ted to the Com mittee, this est
mate is to be largely reduced but still a YER
immense mass OF extra produce and extra labo
would remain 70 be brought into account.
The statements Of new projectors usually re-
quire great deductions but there are general
grounds for concluding that the English have o
pened an immense field for improve nent IN the
preparations Of fax sad henp. As regards Isn