THE CULTIVATION OF FLAX. From the Record.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 605, 31 January 1852, Page 4

THE CULTIVATION OF FLAX. From the Record.

A pamphlet with the above title, from the pen of the Cbevulier Claussen, has just been published, setting forth the n-it'onal importance and advantages ot the movpment, with directions for the preparation of flaxcnt'on, and tbp r ultiva'ion of flax. The whole of the objections whirl) have previously existed to the growth of flax, as well upon the ground of it& supposed exhaustive character, the difficulty attendant upon its preparation, and the uncertainty of markets, are consideied, and, in a chapter devoted to " the distinguishing f atures of the present flax movement," are fully and completely disposed of. The peculiar and distinguishing character of the present movement, the Chevalier states, " consists in the opening up of new and extensive markets for flax, consequent upon the discovery that it can be advantageously employed in every branch of the textile manufactures! of the country, and that its preparation is now so far simplified as to enable the grower to obtain a ready and remunerative market in any form in which he may prefer to dispose of his crop." The preparation of flax has hitherto been the mo6t serious obstacle to an extension of the cultivation of that crop, and various plans have been suggested from time to time by which the process might be either simplified, or the grower be altogether relieved from that duty. The system of purchasing the flax in the straw by factors has been pronounced by a competent authority, the Royal Flax Society, a failure : and the system now at woik in many parts of Ireland, under which the flax is purchased from the grower by persons who steep and prepare it for the manufacturer, has been found to be fraught with many of those mischiefs which must of necessity exist in cases where the relations between the producer and consumer are interfered with by a third clasq of persons, whosfl conduct is not brought under the influence of the salutary check of competition. The great difficulty to be solved was how far the grower might be relieved from the more obnoxious processes of steeping and preparing his flax, and at the same time be afforded that absolute freedom in the disposal of his produce, which is now generally recognised as the guiding principle in all commercial transactions) viz., the buying in the cheapest and selling in the deaiest markets. It is obvious that in cases where an extensive district is granted to any one individual for the preparation of flax under any patented system, whether it be Schenck's, Claussen's or any other person's, the grower in such pnrticular districts must be placed entirely at the mercy of such persons with respect to the price to be given for his crop. Choice of markets in his own district he has none ; the difficulty of transporting so bulky an article as the flax in the straw would prevent him from profitably availing himself of markets in other districts, and he has great objections to enter upon the present recognised process of preparing the flax himself. In such case what course is the grower to adopt? The Chevalier Claussen states that " Tho remedy for this state of things is a perfectly simple one, and consists merely in placing at the disposal of the grower the means of reducing the bulk of his flax crop, without resorting to the process of steeping, so as to admit of its easy and convenient transit to the best and most advantageous market. The grower of flax will not then be compelled to dispose of his produce upon the terma >vhicb may be offered by any one individual possessing in his district the exclusive right of preparation under any system, but may avail himself of the facilities which the great extension of the railway system provides for sending his crop, reduced both in weight and bulk, to any market where better prices may be obtained." " I am," he says, "as deeply interested a3 any person in upholding the rights of inventors, and of persons holding licenses under them ; but I protest I would infinitely prefer sacrificing my own interests in the matter by throwing open my invention to the public, than consent to derive advantages obtained at the expense of a class of producers for whose prosperity I have from my youth felt the deepest interest, and in whose pursuits and employments many of the happiest years of my life have been passed." This reduction of the bulk of tho crop by the removal of the straw or woody parts of the fibre, without resorting to steeping, is perfectly practicable; and we have upon various occasions noticed experiments made for the purpose of demonstrating its feasibility, and of pointing out the advantages which would result to the grower from such a partial preparation of his flax, leaving it to the manufacturer or other parties to steep or otherwise prepare it for the linen or other branches of manufacture to which it might be found to be applicable. Chevalier Claussen states in his pamphlet, that flax so prepared has been admitted by its greatest opponents, the Rojal Flax Society, to be well adapted for sail cloth, canvas, cordage, and all the coarser purposes of manufacture. We may state in passing, that notices from the Admiralty aie now lying before us, inviting tenders for a large quantity of Riga, Peters>burgh, Italian, and Hungarian hemp ; and we cannot belp thinking that it would be a subject worthy the consideration of that Board how far home-grown flax so prepared would be suitable for the purposes for which foreign hemp is now employed. It is also well suited for the Chevalier's purpose of preparation into flax-cotton, flax-wool, and flax-silk ; and is also admitted to possess several advantages for the mode of preparation required for the linen manufactures. In addition, however, to the advantages which the grower would derive from this partial removal of the straw, and diminution of the bulk of his crop, by being enabled to avail himself of the best market for his produce, he would also be enabled to return to the coil, in the shape of manure, a large portion of the crop which would be otherwise lost to it, and would also Lave the means of profitably providing more constant and steady employment for his labourers, as such preparation of the flax might be carried on at times when the state of the weather or other circumstances rendered field labour impracticable. We are happy to see that these advantages, to which we have upon various occasions called attention, have been placed by Chevalier Claussen so prominently, and at the same time so lucidly, before the agriculturists of the country. Directions are given for the preparation of flax-cotton, for which we must refer our readers to the pamphlet itself; and the writer contends that in certain cases, now that the preparation of flax has been made a matter of comparative ease and perfect certainty, there is no reason why the grower should not himself derive all the profits which are to be obtained from the complete preparation of his crop for the purposes of the manufacturer. Plis arguments in favour of this course being founded upon the admitted advantages which result from acting upon the principle of division of labour, he arguns, very justly, that it is by no means necessary that this division of labour should be carried on by persons, each having conflicting and independent interests to serve:— "There is no reason," he says, '' why the grower of flax should not carry out one step further the great principle of division of labour which he has employed in the production of his crops, and in which various duties are allotted to the ploughman, the sower, aud the reaper, in order to bring bis flax into a state ready for use by the manufacturer. Great improvements are constantly taking place in the mode of carrying on farming operations ; agriculture is rapidly becoming a science ; and the scientific agriculturist of the present day cheerfully avails himself of every assistance which the discoveries of chemistry or the development of mechanical skill can afford. The tall chimneys which already begin to dot the face of the rural districts shew that tke steam engine is already recognised as an agent, and its mighty power made to subserve the interests and do the bidding of its agricultural masters. Why should not the same principle of division of labour which has alloted bis duties to the ' engineman' upon the farm be extended to the 'preparer of the flax ?' To object to the agriculturist of the present day engaging in these operations because to bis other knowledge he has not added that of a chemist, would be as impertinent as to contend that he ought not to be allowed the use of steam machinery because he has not the knowledge and experience of an engineer." It appears that tho amount of chemical knowledge required for the preparation of flax cotton may be attained by any agricultural labourer of average understanding within twenty-four hours, and the gross profit shown upon the preparation of one ton of the material, sold at the price of 6d. per lb., is stated to be upwards of 20/. Referring to th<? advantages which his invention, if perfectly successful, is calculated to confer upon the United Kingdom, the Chevalier Claussen states: — " It may probably be consideied presumptuous in me to offer an opinion on the value of an invention with whioh lam personally connected ; but it appears to me impossible to estimate too highly the beneficial effects which the opening up of new markets so extensive as tbose of the manufactures of Great Britain will have upon the development of the vast industrial resources of Ireland. It would tend to arrest that feaiful tide of emigration which is now sweeping away the bone and sinew of the country, and adding strength and power to a haughty rival upon whom England is dependent for ita prosperity and even its manufacturing existence. By giving the means of profitable employment to the people, the crushing burden of local rates would be diminished, land would realize its fair value, and we

Hhoulil hoar less of llie 'confiscation' oi the piopeity of tbe country through the machine' y of the Encumbered Estates Court. A firm bond of unioa would be formed betwepn the two countries, while sigiicultural science and mechanical skill, working hand m hand, would fix the prospeiity of the count! y upon a basts firm as the sea-girt islo itself. The slendci btnlks oi'tho fl.ix plant waving- over its broad and fritilo land, would render our agriculturists «v"! manufacturers indpppndent of foreign countiies p nil us beautiful and delicate blue flower would bpntelorth be legarded as the emblem of a happy, united, and pioaperoua people."

Cultivation of Flax. — r lhe following-is the mode of cultivating- flax recommended and followed for the last six 3eais by Mr. S. Druce, Kynsham, near Oxford:—" Land.—Flax will grow on any soil (except I li^ht gravel), but the best crops are generally produced where there is a subsoil of clay, thoioughly and effectually drained. Rotation.—lt may be planted after any crop (except turnips or mangold), but I am inclined to recommend its being grown in the bean-quatter, so that wheat may succeed, as it always appears to grow luxuriantly after it. Autumn cultivation I consider the best, with scuflling in the spring; and one plough I have always found sufficient. Sowing.—The latter end of March, or the beginning of April, with the seed barrow (not drilled) as soon as the weather will allow it to be worked in light and dusty, from nine to ten pecks to the acre, roll with a light roll previous to sowing, and work in the seed with very light harrow after, and carefully remove all weeds and filth from the suiface. Weeding.—As soon as the plants are sufficiently above ground, all weeds should be carefully cut up with a common knife, similar to garden weedings The crop is generally fit to pull about the end of July,, and usually fills up the time between haymaking and harvest. Two years I have succeeded in growing superior crops of turnips after flax." j

Mazzini. — "The conspirator Mazzini, as he is called was for thirteen years the marked man of European despotism. Had lie dared to set his foot on Ins native Genoa, or in any spot of the land which had exiled him, death by the halter or by the bullet would have been his inevitable fate. In Austria, Russia, or in any part of Eastern Europe, his capture would be paid for by purses of gold. France, Switzerland and England were the only countries that could receive the fugitive. Now here, now there, wretched, proscribed, feared, he still pursued his design— a wandering myth of insurrection — the very spirit of conspiracy iucavnate. Wherever a plot ngainst despotism was going on there was Mnzzini, either in person or by correspondence. Across the Alps all Italy looked to him : young Italians that dared not speak his name, thought of him and prayed for him. At last neither Switzerland nor France would give an asylum to such a man ; England alone could afford him a refuge. For some time accordingly, he was an inhabitant of London — a poor obscure Italian, ns it seemed, earning a livelihood by literature. The great mass of the people he lived amid&t knew nothing about ' him. Sometimes his name would appear in a newspaper, coupled with calumny. Sometimes in a room one person would whisper to another " There is Mazzini," and the eye of the person so addressed would rest with more or less of interest on the slight figure of a man remarkable among a thousand for the burning keenness of his eye, and the intense and earnest melancholy of his pale countenance. Of ;those who knew him more intimately, we never met one who did not speak of him as a noble and true man — a man of irreproachable rectitude, and the most exquisite sensibilities, the very soul of chivalry and honour. Even those who disagreed with him m the very tenor of his speculations, and who were disposed to regard him as oi.e misled by a restless enthusiasm that had nothing to do with facts, and that facts would never acknowledge, admired his indestructible magnanimity and his heroic perseverance. And over such as were at one with him in political faith his power amounted to absolute fascination. They were never tired of talking of him, of seeing him, of listening to him, they worshipped him with a fervour all but religious. — Quarterly Review. Mademoiskm.i: Lind in America. — Mademoiselle Lind still occupies a large share of attention m the American journals. At Baltimore quite a mania had set in, and tickets realized large premiums. On the 14th the songstress gave a free concert m aid of the public schools. Barnum, during his visit, had been charged with collusion with speculators, and great excitement existed. On the 14th Mademoiselle Lind arrived at the capital city, Washington, and Congress reports sketch the sensation which aiose when she visited the Senate Chamber: — "While this was going on, Jenny Lind, accompanied by Belletti, Barnum, Benedict, and Burke, appeared in the ladies' gallery. Commotion and excitement prevailed throughout the Chamber. All the men and women in the galleiies stood up and stared unceasingly, and many crowded around her. She refused to sit in the front seat, and after a stay of about five minutes she departed, followed by nearly all in the galleries." On the evening of the 16th her first concert was given. President Fillmore, the members of the Cabinet, General Scott, and a great crowd, diplomatists and legislators, were present, and j£2ooo was realised by the sale of tickets. On the 17th she would visit Washington's grave, at Mount Veraon. One New York journal says, "Jenny Lind's Baltimore concerts yielded GO,OOO dols., it is said. At Baltimore a charge of 12i]c. was made for admission to the last ticket auction, with a view to exclude all who did not want to purchase. This was freely paid, and the amount (84 dols.) was handed over to the Mayor for charitable purposes. The Charleston (South Carolina^ Courier says, that having given a concert in Richmond, Jenny will go directly to Chaileston, where she is to appear at the New Theatre on the 26th. She is to leave that city positively on the Ist of January, 1852, in the ship Isabel (her own and her party's passages having been already engaged in that vessel), for Havannah." Letters of the 7th inst. from Havannah say, " Jenny Lind is expected in the second week of January. Great preparations have been already made to give her a splendid reception. A Precious Land of Liberty. — <B*loo Reward. — Ran away from the subscriber, nine miles south of Culpeper CouTt-house, on the 4th of November, 1850, a mulatto woman, named Judy, about five feet high, 27 years of age, stoutly built, sandy-coloured hair, has a scar over or near the corner of the left eye, two upper front and several jaw teeth out, and has a twisted nail on the forefinger of one of her hands, caused by a bone felon. She has attempted twice before to get off— once got as far as Warrenlon and to Frontroyal. She has a number of acquaintances in Washington and Alexandria, and an aunt living in Winchester. I will give 100 dollars if taken out of this State and secured in gaol, so that I get her again; and 50 dollars if taken in Winchester or its vicinity, or Alexandria or its adjoining counties. Wai Major. — Wushingfon National Intelligencer.