The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-30


ever. somewhat compromised by 1t, though her
quality of widow offered her the means Of repair
ing all.
The adventure terminated as comedy. Its de-
movement was marriage. Every adventure at a
masked ball does not end 80 agreeably.
| EUGENE G UINOT
Flax Culture.
The subject of fax cultivation is attracting no.
tice in influential quarters in Ireland, as may be
seen from the following letter:
| .QuARTERTowN, Dec. 1, l549.
s'SIR The prosperity of the farmers and the
lower classes in the north of Ireland, compared
with their brother occupers of the soil in the south
and west, believe, to be entirely attributed to
the cultivation of fax. The ruinously low prices
to be obtained for Cork beef, pork butter, &C., has
not been felt by the northern land -owner with any
thing like the pressure that has affected all other
parts of the country. This belief induced me to
ask why we should not follow 80 bright an exam
pie. The cultivation of flax gives ample employ
nent to the surrounding population, old and young,
from the day the plough is put in the ground to
prepare it for the seed until the loom turns out the
finest cambria and linen. All that is wanting in
| the south to rival our northern countrymen is
ertion. Our soil and climate are superior, and we
learn, from the transactions of the Royal Belfast
Flax Association, that from FL 900 to e., 000,-
600 sterling are annually paid by Great Britain to
foreign countries for haxseed and oilcake, and a
| like sum for fax 10 be manufactured. ! ask the
landed proprietors, the farmers and the public at
large to endcavor to keep at least portion of this
vast sum at home, which must prove most benef-
cia to every class Of society. Once establish the
culture of flax extensively, and the manufacture of
it, as a matter of course, will follow This will
give such employment that your population will be
happy and contented, your warehouses compare
lively empty, your taxes greatly reduced, and in
dustry, instead of dleness, will be seen in every
quarter. Having for months been making inquiries
on this most important subject, and feeling con-
WINGED that greater boon cannot be bestowed on
this part of the south of Ireland than tho introduc
| ton of this most valuable branch of commerce,
have determined on making an appeal TO all to
sst me in what hope and believe will (f followed
up with energy) prove blessing to the commu-
nifty at large. have therefore taken the liberty of
calling public meeting at the courthouse, Nal
one O'Clock, TO consider what steps should be taken
TO endeavor TO make the south OF Ireland equal TO
the north, in these ruinous times; and trust that
full assembage will prove that il is not considered
presumption in an lrishman, however humble
unworthy he may be, TO take upon himself any
sponsbility that he believes Tor the good of his
country; the public will, think, readily the
step have taken, when they hear that have the
hearty cooperation of Mr.. Dargan, who has proved
himselfo best friend and benefactor since ne first
came amongst US, when famine and pestilencc
were depopulating the land The employment and
high wages he gave saved thousands from starva-
ton the poor house. He will not only attend the
meeting, but will bring with him gentleman be-
longing TO the Royal Belfast Flax Association, to
explain every thing connected with the subject,
and also DO all in his power TO promote the object
have in view. May therefore earnestly beg your
attendance, feeling convinced that, after hearing
the statements made and the certain benefits to be
derived from the introduction Of the culture Of fax
you will aid to the utmost Of your power this most
important undertaking.
"a have the honor 70 be, sir, your obedient SER
want, J. DILLON CROKER"
| The efforts Of the Royal Agricultural Society in
Belfast to encourage the growth Of this useful plant
are above all praise and ought to be supported in
| all parts of the kingdom The following state
ment, from an address lately delivered by its ac-
complished secretary, J. MADAM, esq, suggests
other no less essential means Of benefttng the sis
ter Kingdom:
Among the manufactures OF Ulster, the linen
trade occupies the great place. The progress Of
mechanical skill has effected great revolution in
this branch Of industry. Twenty five years ago,
1t was still essentially rural manufacture. The
small farmer grew the material, his wife and
daughters spun II into yarn, and, with the aid Of
his sons, he wove IL into cloth, which sold in
the nearest market TO the bleacher, who undertook
the after preparation until IL was produced In
state 1T for sale But the application OF machinery
70 the process Of spinning changed all this. Ii
found that the adaptation of iron and the power Of
steam might, with advantage, supersede the nirn
bic fingers Of the spnser and that the thread could
thus be made at very reduced cost. There are
many persons who lament this change, and who
sigh after the days when the busy whirring of the
wheel was heard throughout the winter nights and
the long summer evenings in the inland valleys OF
Ulster. But, however Interesting such rural
manufacture may have been, however valuable ms
source Of employment around the cottage hearth,
and however preferable, in a moral and sanitary
point OF view, 10 the employment Of hundreds OF
young persons within the walls of factory, stern
necessity compelled the adoption Of this improve
ment Had Ireland then tried, az Germany and
Belgium have since endeavored, TO retain the hand
spinning, and TO neglect the advantages offered by
the newly discovered powers Of machinery, she
a u. - =
have, great proportion Of her linen trade. Eng
land had adopted the new system; her yarns
competed with ours, and undersold them in our
own markets, and she would have secured a
monopoly ofthis trade, and dealt death blow to the
prosperity Of this ancient staple Of our country had
not steps been taken by our manufacturers 10 fight
her with her own weapons. About 1923 the first
fax-spnnng factory was erected. This trade now
counts 81 mills, and numbers ZOO spindlcs. In
twenty years IL has attained its present magnitude.
II employs about Is, 900 individuals, and distributes
among them, in wages, f3O0 900 annually. In
the buildings and machinery 81 ,500,0 900 are in
vested, and 900 tons Of fax value three quarters
Of million sterling chiefly Of the growth Of Ire
land, are annually consumed About l50, 900 tons
of coal yearly required TO drive the steam
engines Of the flax mills and bleach greens, en-
poying 40 so vessels, and 200 TO 800 sesmon, to
transport them from the collicries Of the sister
island. II is worthy Of remark, AZ affording an
illustration of the rapid increase of factories IRON
the cause above detailed, that the number Of per-
sons employed In fsctory labor In Ireland has in
creased in much greater ratio of late than in
England or Scotland. By the report Of the Factory
inspectors for 1871, we learn that, between 1889
and that year, the increase in Scotland was 49,
cent, in England 81 per cent, while in r. 81.
was SO per cent The export of IL =. eiand II
yarns from Ireland TO Enrls- lens and linen
world, reaches E4.OH" -..io, and all parts oil the
markc, IL tho -yv.00O annually, and in every
in ev> 80 produce Of Irish industry 70 De iouno'
Try port where the British flag waves does
this fabric appear, 10 be exchanged for the produc
tons Of the country furnishing an item OF The vast
| system of barter which has carried brinsn COIL
,nerce 10 The ,ttermost ends of the earth. At the
present day, about 100000 souls derive means o.
livelihood, directly or indirectly, from tne irisn
linen manufacture. The growth OF the raw ma'e-
rial at our very doors, the Improvements IN ma
cbincry. the humidity Of our climate, which &c
much favors the bleaching process, and renders
our linen Of purity Of Wilderness unequsiled 10