FLAX

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 672, 22 September 1852, Page 4

F LA X

THE VIM MONEMEIST IX IKEIAM). The Belfast papers report at great length (he proceedings al ihe annual meelinq of Iho floyal Society for (he Promotion and Improvement of the Grow (h of Flay in h eland. The Marquis of Down.shire presided, and (he repoit read by the &eore(a:> ga\ea most qualifying account of the piogmss and prospects of (his excellent associa= (ion. An evhad or two from this statement may not he without hilerest at the present time. AVilh regard to the increased consumption of flax, the report says : — ''The present demand for f!a\ in Ireland, is about double what it was when the society was esahlishcd. In 1841, the liish spinning trade numbered 250,000 spindles Now it is close upon 300,000. In place of 10,000 tons of flax, which was the o\tenl oi consumption in 1841 , 52,000 tons are now required by (he Irish trade. The entire consumption of the United Kingdom would, at present, require 500,000 acres of flax annually, and it is progressively inci easing at a pretty rapid rale. As has been before repeatedly stated, any surplus produced would lintl a ready market in France, the United States of America, and Belgium, all of which now import (he inferior flaxes of Russia to a large extent." The concluding paiagraph gives a concise resume of the operations of the society since its establishment in (he year 1841 :—: — " Eleven years a<jo, when this society was instituted, (hero w*ie many who thought i& views difliniKjf not impossible of accomplishment. The increased and improved cultivation of flax was a subject of litUe beyond local interest, and for some time the labours of the society were looked upon rather wilh curiosity than with a feeling of their importance. Since (hen grave political and social changes have occurred to alter the opinions of mauj . Perseveiing and energetic exertions have had their due weigh!, and the progress of a manufacture which is one of the | four great textiles employed ia the clothing of the chilized woild has demanded increascu ct- i tention to the supply of its raw material. Thero appears to be throughout Km ope a lively attention excited by this question, and it is no( a little gratifying to your committee to be applied to by foreign Governments as the fountainhead of sound information upon it. Al Berlin a society on the model of our own, has been founded. In England and Scotland preparations on an extensive scale are being made for embarking in flax culture ; and in Ireland, the end and aim of the society's labours, the chief difficulty seems now to consist in keeping the matter wilhin reasonable bounds, and in preventing too hasty and indiscriminate attempts from being made before all requisite local facilities have been provided for the profitable prosecution of the undertaking. In the low state of agriculture in Ireland, and wilh the peculiarities of her social state, there are difficulties in the way of the society which would be unknown in counliies of more advanced intelligence. But thai those difficulties arc nolinsupci able the progress already made sufficiently indicates. The active and sustained co-operation of landed proprietors is indispei^able, and your committee hope Ihcy will be sufficiently alive to the vital necessity of exertion to induce (hem (o do their part. The efforts of the society, however great, cannot reach beyond sound advice and practical teaching. The perseverance, enterprise, and self-re-liance necessary to secure success can only be supplied by (he people themselves. It is to be hoped (hat Iho ordeal through which the country has been passing will arouse to exertion all whose position in society and whose educational advantages have endowed them with the means of usefulness. The present slate of flax culture in (he south and west of Ireland is a critical one. With proper care and judicious direction it may he made Hie basis of a widely spreading system, calculated to confer lasting benefits on the owners and occupiers of the soil. Your committee cheerfully pledge themselves to spare no effort on their part to secure the success of the movement, but they certainly look to landed proprietors for equal exertion ; and they feel assured that the importance of the end in view is sufficient to encourage both to further efforts, since, whether as regards profit to Ihe farmer, employment to the labourer, or advantage to the only manufacture which has taken firm root in Ireland, Ihe benefits to he derived from the extended cultivation of flax place it among Ihe greatest and most readily available means of improving the condition of this kingdom."