The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-09-03

From Quarters Value
Russia. ................. 4l7,95l f9l9,492
All Other countries. $40. 2l2,520 467, 54l
IOtal.. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. G3O,4u IL ,3S1 ,O36
Thus we see putting both the products Of the fax
plant together, that We are now yearly indebted for
these useful articles
To Russia for. .................... fs,1s2 ,092
A total of nearly five millio and half sterling
for what Ireland could produce with profit aud ad
vantage, not Only to the extent of the import
except some very fine fax-s of Belgium--but also
for ex ort 10 France, Belgium and other countries
which now derivea considerable proportion OF the
supply Of their cosrse flag frou Russia. .F.ancs,
for example, Imports $4,000 tons annually from
that country and Belgian 800 TONS 1t is evident
that the consumption Of fax has very much in
creased OF late years Ia Great Britain and Ireland,
for we fluid that, while the annual importation Of
foreign sorts had risen from Sc GA TOMS in the rst
five yea to SLIT In the last five, the production
In belar lad sls0 risen in the same interval from
yearly ave age of $4,000 tons. to an average OF
more than 80 600 tons. Thus, in round numbers
the quantity Of fax 6bre consumed in the linen
manufacture Of CIR. at Britain and Ireland was fro
l643 to 1913, $4,000 tons annually and from lS49 to
1863, 10000 tons. To this consumption, foreign
nax contributed in the first period S2a pei ce0t.,
and 10 the second 735 per cent. The home
production has, therefore, been gaining ground
on the foreign supply; aud last year Ireland
furnished "A 600 tons, while foreign countries con-
tributed 1000 b that the of the latter 70
the entire sumption Of 1853 reduced to GO per
cent. 1t Is much ~ be regretted however that with
the greas acknowledged capabilities of QUE island
for the production Of fax, the United Kingdom is
still 30 largely dependent upon foreign states for this
raw mat rsl and more especially 70 sine 30 great
proportion Of the extrapeous supply is from q
country ike Russia, whose political Constitution Is
30 much 81 variance w,tn ours as Continually to
threaten interruption o. relations while Ter com
mer ial 81 stem is 80 restrictive as to deprive us Of
the benefit of exchanging our manufactures for her
agricultural productions In order TO ascertain the
extent 70 which fax nigh: be grown in Ireland as
Tart OF The regular c1Oppiog rotation some facts
may now be put forward. Tue entire quantity Of
fax grown In 1853 was l75495 acres or one to
every IS Of arabic lard. OF this area Ulster gave
1917 acres, or one In every 2ll Of arabic land.
Had the other provinces produced flax in similar
proportion, the quantity grown would nave reac lei
nearly 100000 acres. But In Ulster ITSELF we fud
so1oe COUNTIES producing much less fax than the
rest. SIX counties OF thai province varied from one
acre OF max in every 81 Of arabic land, to acre
IN every IS; Cavan had one acre in every 81; An
tim, one IN 49, ard Fermanagh, ore in ~.
Taking Donegal, Derry, Monaghan and Armagh
as the fous greatest fax growing counties, we find
that sn acre of flax Is there grown to every fifteen
Of arabic land SuppOsing all the rest of ireland to
grow the plant In tue same prooNrl,n, VIC should
have total area Of nearly 100000 &C es. But, as
10 many districts the coil is less suitable to fax than
Ior ot6er eros, we may adhe to the figure OF
area viii b Ireland might with advantage cult
vale. Taking five ews. ss the average Weld. this
would furnish $50 GOO tons Of FIBRE about 1000
tons over the present c0Dsum ton of Great B-itain
and Ireland. " Is very evident, therefore, that
were TIE growth Of flax to extend to the limit
poinied out, re could replace toe entire import Of
Russian fax, and lave a large surplus to export to
France, Belgium and Other cOuatris, now coosu.
ners OF s1e Russian article. Putting this 10000
ons at f45 Ter top average value, IL would amount
" IL, 100 GOO. Bat this IS lot ALL Every acre OF
flax will yield one and half quarters Of seed. We
have already sesntla We imcot 100000 quarters
annually from abroad, and TO this should be added
abb Ut $4,000 tons Of nl-cake, which represents
$4,000 quarters more-sey, in all, 100000 qusr
teIa
At the above rate Of yiel3, the Iri.h crop would
give 100000 quarters, which would supply the
place OF the foreign import, aud leave surplus for
expotati0p. The value, at ASS. per quarter, you'll
amount 10 e. l60 000 which, If added to ne valus
OF fbre, would give nine millions sterling as the
annual sum which Irelaod might derive f.on the
fax crop. rhe object Of the foregoing calculations
is to show that tie British and Irish linen minuac
ture might be reh deret completely independent of
Russia. and, to great extent, of other co iutries
alfo, for the supply of raw materials aud that ca.
te5es ders Of the sister island might also oot,in all
the oilcake they require, made from Irish seed, II
the cultivation d The fax plant were extended in
Ireland az 1t might be, throughout the length aud
Belfast has been unremi tnQly iaboriag TO this end
since l84l, end 1t 10 most satisfactory TO observe
that the area in hsx has 10 ,rsased from 1882
acres, in le46, 10 us ,495 aces in 1858; the pro
viucss u Leinster, Munster, and CoDnaueht having
increased during the sans period from 46ll acres
tn 1929 Still. when we fad the sm allsss County
Ia Ulster (Armagh) growing nearly nsf as much
more than these T. rec provinces taken togsther It
must be admitted that taere is plenty OF wo,k for
the socie y 10 do.
With reference 10 the suitability of coarse Irish
fax for tpnee textile fabrics whose material IL
row furnished by Russia little doub. can exist that
IN hA hcf..
expectation from In laud 1t would be freely taken
tor this pu,pose. Az the growth has increased tie
export bas advanced Pari passn. Scotland ia the
great sea- Of consumption OF coarse fax, and We find
that country has RI ceived from Belfast alone -
Ii low .,....'s.s........ bS4 Ions.
1851. 22s6
1852. Observation-Disclosures 006 "
and snouqb the ex )ort fell In 1853 to 754 tonsl
this dec ease msy he attributed to the very great al
di'iona demand caussc by AZ 700 spind = hen add.
ed to toe liisn factories 'ast year, whrh AFFORDED
tho gu as.r par II the homegrown ahrp. 10 the
first SIX months Of the present year. l99 tons Of
dax AID tVw were shipped nom Lish poRts 70 Scvt-