On flax, and the practicability of extending its cultivation in Ireland : together with directions for the proper management of that crop / by Edmund W. Davy.

  • Davy, Edmund William, 1826-
Date:
1865
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On flax, and the practicability of extending its cultivation in Ireland : together with directions for the proper management of that crop / by Edmund W. Davy. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    of this branch of agricultural and commercial industry, that they have greatly extended the cultivation of this plant; whilst in other districts of Ireland their example has been recently followed to some extent; so that there was a greater amount of Flax produced last year in Ireland than was ever previously grown in this country, and greatly in excess over the former year; thus, the number of English acres under Flax in 1862 was 150,070 acres; and in 1863, 214,099 acres—being an increase of 64,029 acres, or considerably more than one-third greater than in the preceding year ; and the Flax crop on the whole appears to have been in every way most profitable; and in many instances large sums were realized by different individuals from the sale of their Flax crop ; and though there was a much larger supply, the price of Flax still kept up, from the great demand for that substance. In the present year, the amount of Flax sown throughout Ireland, as far as can he learned, greatly exceeded that sown last year ;* and the prospects of the crop appear to be very good. Again, there is no reason why other parts of Ireland should not as well as the North participate in the advantages derivable from the growth of Flax; for it is generally believed that the soil and climate of many other districts are far more favourable to the growth of this crop than the colder and more mountainous districts of the North; and there are many instances of Flax being grown in the South, and in other parts of this country, with the greatest success and profit to the grower. ADVANTAGES OE THE FLAX CROP. Amongst the advantages of the Flax crop may be mentioned the fol- lowing :— First,—It is not so liable to he injured by wet seasons as our cereals and other crops. This is shown by the experience of the last few years, which have, as is well known, been very injurious to our grain crops, hut have not affected (at least to the same extent) that of Flax. Second,—Its growth is very rapid, so that it occupies the ground a short time, comparatively speaking, and thus enables us to grow a greater number of crops on the same soil. Third,—It is far more profitable, when properly attended to, than any of our other crops. It is difficult, however, to state what is the average yield and profit on an acre of Flax, as they vary so much ac- cording to a great variety of circumstances. Fourth,—Its culture supplies not merely a source of agricultural, but of industrial employment; in this respect it is more beneficial than any of our grain or other crops occupying the same extent of ground, in addition to its being more valuable. * From the recent returns of the Registrar-GeDeral for the present year, published September, 1864, we learn that the acreage amount of Flax sown this year exceeds that of last year by 87,761 acres.