EXTRACTS.

Auckland Chronicle and New Zealand Colonist, Volume 2, Issue 66, 7 November 1844, Page 2

EXTRACTS.

Cultivation of Flax. —By their neglect of the cultivation of flax, the farmers and landowners of this country have sadly overlooked their own interests. Flax is commonly consumed in this country to the amount of 67,000 tons annually, the value of which at a low average, amounts to between 4,000,0007, and 5,000,000/. sterling. Every pound of this raw material, imported from our industrious continental neighbours—the French, Dutch, and Bel» gian farmers. I have had seven year's experience as a grower of flax, and thirteen year's practical knowledge as a buyer and agent for several of the largest flax spinners in Leeds, Manchester, prepared to place before landlords and far* mers my views, which if followed up by them will soon stop the call for French, Dutch, and Riga flax; and thus we shall keep the 5,000,000/. sterling in the hands our own farmers, instead of sending it abroad. lam prepared to prove that there is as good soil in Lancashire, and other parts of England, for the cultivation of the flax plant as in Ireland, France, or Holland; and, as I can also prove, that farmers can, by growing flax, clear greater profits per acre, than they can by growing wheat and barley. There have been instances of 60/. per acre, clear of all ex* penses, made this year in the north of Ireland, by parties who went to work on

the Belgian system. At the last meeting of the society in Ireland for the improvement of flax culture, one spinner declared that, previously, he generally paid 40,0Q0/. per annum to the continental growers far flax, and that tha last year he had not paid 40s. I can prove that the small farmers —holdersof from 30 to 60 acres of ground, can now make by an acre or two acres of flax, what will pay their rent for 30 or 60 acres. This never could be done by six acres of any other kind of grain. This almost new and improved system has so extended itself that branches of the society for improvement have been established in every direction. In the north, 112,000 acres were sown last year, and the calculation is that the value of the produce, at the low price of 45/. per ton, would amount to 1,707,150/. At the same time, I know that some has been sold so high as 140/. per ton, and a great deal at 64/. and 70/. per ion.—Agricultural Gazette. University Intelligence.—Oxford. —The new Proctors have caught nothing yet but severe colds, whilst their predecessors have retired from office with the affectionate regard of all those who are undergoing rustication. The Professor of Self Defence will commence his Lectures on the first section of Fistiana early next week. The Professor of Poetry is in town endeavouring to master the intricacies of the Polka.— Punch.