Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-15
fCopyrighted. 1881

In six OF the thirteen counties in which
have so far experienced the delights Of Jour-
neying afoot in Ireland, fax is an important
agricultural product. The shamrock is an
Irish emblem of the deepest sentiment; and
1t Is difficult for us who are not Irish to grasp
the unreasonable tenderness with which the
delicate trefoil il regarded. But a "stook" of
held-fax. or better a spray or cluster Of the
beautiful fax-bells in bloom, might probably
have great significance a national industrial
token. 1t has been both a pleasing and painful
thing to wander among the big and little farms
and study the methods of the tenantry in grow
ing and harvesting fax and in preparing it for
the market; pleasing. for the countless inter-
esting experiences among a tender-hearted,
lowly folk; painful, to become 80 bitterly con-
scious that the barbarous landlord system, in
its apparently endless continuance and increas-
ing seventies, has forced the Irish farmer of
any product into the condition of sodden,
starved slave, whose highest possibilities are
all lost through the desperate scourge of grab
bling and grubbing for mere rent-money and
existence; and that from this cause and the
pitiably ignorant methods resultant, there is
lost to Ireland that which, were her people
landowners, free and consequently ambitious
ONE OF THE RICHEST SPOTS
for her area in the world. A very concise
statement of fact will illustrate this. In 1887
the total production of fax in Ireland amounted
to but 10000 tons, valued at $3.50 per ton or
S4, COO, 900. Irish linen manufacturers required,
and were compelled to import from the conti-
nent 1900 tons in excess of the supply. Here
was loss to the Irish farmers in few coun-
ties OF S4.250, 900. But this is as nothing. In
Il
data prove that. exclusive of this loss. there is
an annual loss to Ireland in the matter of fax
alone-from want of development of the flax
producible 100000 acres in q unhaxed coun-
ties. and neglect and ignorance in fax culture
of fully 100000, 600. And this enormous sum
is only one of many items Of cost to this deep
ly-wronged land from the coercve govern
ment 1t has for centuries endured from that
great power ON whose happy possessions ''the
sun never SETS"
TENANTS HOLDINGS.
Without seeing. it is impossible for an Ameri-
can to imagine the diminutiveness of the Irish
farmers holding. or the tiny fields in which all
Ireland's fax is produced. Tenants holdings
are Oftener less than 5 acres than more than
10. One of 20 is vast farm indeed. and its
possessor, in the peasants mind. must be a
very rich and fortunate man: for those 20 acres
cost am annual rental of $780, So that instead
OF finding fax-felds of sufficiently ample area to
labor, 1t Is unusual to see one comprising a
haif-dozen acres. Indeed out of 100 you might
come upon. one fourth of that number would
not cover whole of ground. But little
or big the Irish farmer buys Belgian or Rus
sian seed. which costs about SIS an acre. on
credit at the village store, thus mortgaging his
inslgnltcant crop in advance.
HOW FLAX IS GROWN.
The land is plowed in the fall light or loamy
soils being preferred, and is worked in the
spring to a mold with harrows usually cross
wise and diagonally; but the soil is only pull
verlzed on top. as, curiously, the flax which
grows as far from the surface into the ground
as 1t does out of it. with moderate soil resist
anee to downward growth. seems to possess a
tendency OF increase in length of stock. The
seed Is sown In April broadcast, from pouch
made by tying together two corners of linen
sheet. This is slung over the right shoulder,
the left arm holding the seed-pouch open
precisely as our own good fathers used to SOW
wheat. oats, and barley from the striped,
brown. two-bushel bag. The entire skill re-
CURED in dax-sowing is in securing a uniform
distribution OF the seed and a sufficiently lib
eral amount; for those two essentials give even
length of stalk and least branching at the ton.
largely increasing the value to both the spin
ner and the farmer.
wedding TINE.
To this point the tenant has required no
more help than perhaps his own family could
give him; but now that wedding time" has
arrived. additional labor must be hired. 1t
comes troopinS down from the mountain dis
tric's IN the form of buxom, shapely Irish
lasses. Amazons in frame and strength, thew
are beings OF brave and sunny mood who can
exist on less food, work harder in the field for
twelve hours OF every day, and dance longer
and with more vigorous evOlutions at night
than any other women or men that live. Nor
are these picturesque folk ALL Women and
girls from near villages also hire to the Irish
farmer in summer. The mountaineers engage
t8 from two to three months; the village girls
bHthe day or week. Both do mems labor. or
more. and receive about one shilling per day
Their food is OF the meagerest and plainest
character. Oaten bread made from course
oatmeal. with only salt and water added. oc-
casionaily portion of the commonest vege-
tables, with little OF the vilest purchasable
tea, and for great luxury. drop of milk, are
all. They scarcely know the taste of butter
meat or fowl. And yet these girls have ewes
liquid with light. teeth white and cleaning as
new frost eomplexiors that rival tints of the
rose. and forms of lovely symmetry. Brave
grand toilers, these Irish girls; splendid in
goodness and truth; royal in endless patience.
noble in deathless virtue! OF such as these
true poets should sing.
WHAT Is REQUIRED.
The wedding of fax in Ireland necessitates
great labor and care. The foreign seed used
seems to engender multiplicity Of weeds.
20-acre field would require about 200 DAYS Of
one hand for thorough work, or ten DAYS per
single acre. When the fax is about six inches
high, wedding is begun, damp DAYS being
chosen. SO that the weeds NAV be more easily
extracted, and the tender shoots of flax bruised
as little as possible. In Belgium the weeders.
with coarse cloths around their knees. Green
along on all-fours, and among the thousands
that may be seen in days journey, not one is
out OF this groveling position. But the Irish
weeders do their work barefooted and crouched
In haif-sittng posture. 80 that the roadside
passer often gets glimpse of pretty form and
face. as well as n bit of true Irish blackeuard-
ing If he stare too long at some honest noun
tain girl. singular fact about this work ia
that it is all done toward the wind. This is in
order that the breezes may assist in lifting the
bent or bruised shoots again. and a curious be-
lief prevails that this unavoidable treading and
breaking Of the fax in its early period of
growth, has stimulating effect upon the crop.
KNOCK well-favored man down" said a
twinkling-eyed Irishman in explanation of this
theory, IAN he le'ps up the heartsomer fur the
tap We wOr giv'n him.
IN THE NORTH.
Throughout the northern fax-raising coun-
ties you will universally find the fax-weeders
hurrying from their homes at dawn. They
must be at work in the fields at six, At eight
O'Clock three-quarters Of an hour is allowed
ior breakfast; the same time for dinner at
one O'Clock; and work in the field ceases
between six and seven at night. During the