Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1861-02-21
Flax a Substitute for Cotton,

A good deal of interest is now manifested {
in what promises new branch OF industry
TO the North and at the same time prom
iscs to relieve us Of tax and an unpeas-
ait allegiance to Slavery. | the idea is
practicable, it should be discussed at length
We alude to raisn! flax as substitute Tor
cotton. We find report OF "A Massachusetts,
Legislative agricultural meeting, as follows;
There was a large audience at the meet
ING Of the Legislative Agricultural Society |
last evening. Much interest having been
lately directed to the cultivation Of flax 10
the North as a substitute for cotton, the
Representatives Hall was filled with ladies
and gentlemen attracted By the promise Of
discussion upon the subject.
Mr.. Walker OIL the Senate called the
meeting to order, aud called Mr.. Stephen NJ
Allen 10 preside.
Mr.. Alien took the chair, and stated that
agriculture had always been considered OF
almost paramount Importance IN the wo'ld'
When it vas neglected there was apparent
dl,lointing in tie working Of human affairs
Espccially now, when the nation is IN ITS
-d.ent condition, we should not fail to fully
consider the subject The difference IN ell
nate aud soil make yari ETY. Of productions
in our country We cannot expect one plant
r, orov IN tho climate Of another, any more
than we can erow aud thrive ia conditions
,nos, o,,,osel "a health We must learn to
ndinst pIap,. to their various need. But
,he n,opt called TX has been grown in all
aces and NAV be raised in almost every eli
mao ood soil II has been principal arti.
,or moth, clotbinr Rome and England
in turn ave used it. and now, in modcrl
,Imrs M Nam, /. n.eJ 10 n great extent
Tbc r.e,Lnd If u.ipr il does not differ much
Nam Mo old plan. excepting tnat modern i'm
mr,yomors baye nade the process Of IL
ir,o orj manufacture easicr and cheaper
f., .,,,o. ,.I..ccs IN This country. espccially il
Ior1rn51,,y y H. some peopIe made it
.,,iclsal attention ye,rs ago. Bu
;nSroyomcnt. were needed. aul were after
vori mad. In this house it was announce
;,1s5I b,, by.tbo use Of recent mechar
XII invention h. manufacture Of FAX coul
to,a "a t - oa,,re,e w,,b cotton Tho wor
,.ton i, .,t,ri.e and me subject ha
hoon more generaily taken hodo The spec
rnon. ,,r.sc7,,cd here have been produced so
,oho sald ~ - cost Of ciqht cents per pouu,
These specimens we're displayed one ye
AGO The improvements going on since ha'
rendered the price of the fax cotton abo
ono third less than the Southern cotton, al
!, can bc nroduced in such quantity
will render it an article Of great importan
in manufacture.
The sneaker called upon DR., G. f. VIII
low If Boston to make some statements
roI,tiep 10 the matter.
DIR. Winsow said this had been subJ(
of interest to him from two considerations
ore. It's practical nature, and the other Il
hearing i, would have on the Southern cote
Il wac y subiect of special interest to the
aroog,d in the manufacture of cotton
wool One great difficulty in this manui'
,nro has heen the extracting the color
wa,,cr II has been ascertsincd that t.,
i,ns.rt Of ingredient that can be extract
XVI chemical process The fax fibre
Icpr while that Of cotton is more pcrf(
ond his was another great difficulty with
former But by the ma, hiucry which
been invented these long fbies have been
duced to fneness almost equal to cotton
Nv the new process fabric may be broul
out as nice as, aud cheaper than, cotton
wool. As to its effect on the cotton rails
at the South, il cannot be denied that
AGITATION at the No til on the institutions
the South has directed the attention 10
cultivation of FAX in opposition to cotton
This is the first move to abrcgate hui
oloo al and at