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Hie quantity of water was 1100 gallons to every 4 cwk of flax ; at which rate 2 tons of flax straw , the estimated produce of one acre , would require 11 , 000 gallons of water ; and although it is true that , in each successive steeping , a portion of the old water may be re-employed , the agriculturist would have immense trouble and expense to incur in returning , as lie ought , the whole of it to his land . The produce , it will be observed ) is about one-seventh in relation to the weight , of the straw , and this again is subject to a further loss in boiling of one-sixteenth ; so that * what with the expense of a license , and the cost of the machinery , however suitable to speculators who care little for the
balance of fertility in the flax grower s land , so long as their own bargains are satisfactory , we cannot advise a tenant farmer in England to take advantage of it unless he has some skill , spare capital , and the means of restoring the heart of his land at some very cheap rate , without using the steep-water . To the landlord , however , who will purchase his tenant's flax without the seed at a more liberal price than is afforded by the Irish speculators , this method is not without its advantages . The steep-water , being free from extraneous impurities , the result is generally a fine , clean , soft fibre , commanding a higher price than flax steeped by the old system;— -the apparatus is easily managed , and the heat always under control .
Similar , if not more favourable results , may be obtained by cold water steeping in rivers , but the time required is of course much longer , and it is not possible to regulate the heat , which of course varies with the temperature of the atmosphere . The mode in which this is carried on in Bel g ium , whence the finest flax is imported ^ is described as follows : — -After saving the flax on the Courtrai system , — -which we strongly recommend to our readers , and which will be explained in a future number— " the flax is taken to the banks of
the river Jjys and tied up into bundles with rye , straw , each bundle consisting of two ordinary sized sheaves , placed roots and heads alternately- It is then packed into wooden frames 12 feet long by 6 feet broad , made of bars ; a lining of straw is put around the flax inside the frame , and , when this is done , the frame is launched out into the river , and such weight applied as is sufficient to teep all under water . The term required in steep is from ten to twelve days . When taken from
the steep the ' shove , ' or woody part , will draw out the whole way from root to top . " It is in this condition that it is placed upon the grass to dry and bleach—a process which will hereafter require some particular description . We believe , that the Courtrai flax , which is usually prepared in this manner ( the steeping being , however , completed in a second process , ) commands the highest price in our markets , and in this respect still stands superior to the produce of Mr . Schonck's patented sipparatus .
In none of these processes , however , docs the produce of flax exceed one-seventh of the straw operated upon , and we are led to the irresistible conclusion , supported by actual experience , and by the figures g iven in our last week ' s impression , that the most economical , most natural , and most productive plan to tho furmcr , is to separate the wood from the flax in its raw or dry state , and afterwards to dissolve the gum and thus liberate tho fibre .
Steeping flax in rivers abounding with fish is prohibited by Act of Purliamcnt . —Steeping it d , V Iriandoise in bogholes is slovenly and wasteful . —Steeping it under Schonck ' s patent is probably expensive work , und , in either case , whatever tho profits , which wo freely accord to this wonderful crop , however mismanaged , they are gained at tho sacrinco of fertility in tho soil , and it is by these processes of steeping in the straw that tho title of a " scourging crop" has been affixed to that of flax .
Still , whilo wo entertain theso strong viowh as to these modoa of preparing tho libro , it in open to tho farmer who merely intends to grow flax on tho , samo land onco in ten years , to adopt any ono of them without much fear of the result ; for , provided lie saves and uses tho seed in fattening Jus slock , tho crop will not exhaust his land more than , if ho much an , wheat on a five course shift . We dc » iro , however , to hnpraiH upon our agricultural friends the possibility of allowing flux to take a much moro frequent courso in their rotations of cropping . Thoro in no reason why , if nothing lcuves
tlio farm but pure fibro , it may not bo grown every successive year ; but if it were only to bo introduced every . fifth year by no moro than u tenth part of our f armors , wo should oro long witness a moro considerable export trade in articles manufactured from this commodity , and tho 10 , 000 , 000 * . now annually paid to foreign countries for flax , und for its adjunotH , oilcuko and linseed , might bo more profitably Hpont ; at homo . If tho profits of an aero of flax enable a farmor to grow nino acres of other produce rent free , moro wheat would be grown , w& more etock would be fattened , on . the
extra breadth of land under swedes , assisted by homemade oilcake . A flax crop travelling round a farm once in five or si * years would , in fact , under proper management , become a fertilizer of no ordinary value , and we fully believe that more than half the success which has marked Belgian and Dutch agriculture is attributable to the regular growth of this valuable crop . The following rotation on lands fit for the growth of turnips and barley may be found serviceable , and has been highly recommended to small farmers : — 1 st year , Oats after grass , or on a clover lea . 2 nd Flax pulled in August and succeeded by a stolen crop of rape , manured with 2 cwfcs . guano , and 2 cwts . of gypsum . 3 rd — Swedes , well manured . 4 th — Spring wheat , laid down with clover and ryegrass . 5 th — Hay , and green clover for soiling . 6 th — Gra 2 ing for sheep . 7 th — Winter oats or beans . 8 th — Flax , followed same year by winter tares , manured with 2 cwt . guano , and 2 cwt . gypsum . 9 th ~ Swedes , as before , followed by wheat or barley , rye-grass and clover , oats and then flax again . *
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THE MONAECH FOR TTKCIiE SAM . One thing is wanted to crown the perfection of America 5 but that thing , by the sagacity of her citizens , has been discovered ; and the event is reported by the New York Evening Post . The young Republic is sufficiently sharp , vigorous , and go-a-head— -too much so indeed ; but Mrr Chandler has discovered the counterpoise , and has proclaimed it in the H ouse of Representatives at 'Washington : " Old ' Fogyism has been that which has saved nations from the rashness and imprudence of the young . "
The difficulty must be to find any of native growth . Mr . Chandler himself may perhaps be a specimen of the new growth , but the best way would be to import it from England * where our market is overstocked . A trade in Old Fogies , as a return for Colt ' s revolvers , would beautifully illustrate reciprocity in commerce . We can't make revolvers with the tact of the Americans—they can't grow Fogies : let us exchange . It is to be hoped that there will be free trade in Fogies , without protection to
Chandlers . An official head will be wanted for the new department —a President of the Fog ies ; and who so fit for Grand Fogy as a used-up English statesman—the Duke of Curry Powder , tho Defender of the Family Seat , or even the Paat Grand Minister of the Old Fogy Cabinet ?
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[ iff THIS DEPABTMEITT , AS All OPINIONS , HOWEVIE EXTREME , ABE ALLOWED AN EXPBESSION , THE EDITOB ITECESSAEILX HOLDS HIMSELF EESPONSIBIiE FOB NONE . ]
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RIFLE-REASONING . { To the Editor of the I ^ eader . ) DBAS SiB , —Is your Open Council open yet again for a further antidote to the counsel of your more exclusive columns ? The following , from your facile American contemporary , the New York Herald of the 7 th instant , occurs in a report of the municipal election in St . Louis . It exemplifies to the life ( or death !) tho ancient logic ; whereof , in oblivion of the adage , " How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds Makes ill deeds done !" " Certain parties" have of late become enamoured . " A disgraceful riot , " says the Herald , ( said " forties " would , I presume , characterize it even more gingerly , as , perhaps , a little healthy bloodletting , or somewhat of that sort , ) " occurred in the First ward , which resulted in the death of six persons , and tho wounding of five or six others , by shots which were fired from tho windows of a German coffee-house . This house , in addition to one or two other buildings , was entirely destroyed , after the close of the polls . The returning crowd , when at tho corner of Seventh and ^ Park avomie , were fired upon from the windows of Weicicin
meyer ' s Tavern . The windows and doors were - stantly broken in , and the crowd , on gaining access , iireti tho building , which was burnt to the ground , m crowd was again fired on at tho corner of 1 ark aim Carondelet avenues ; and a member of tlio St . J ^ ou Firo Company was mortally wounded , Iho Jioub from which the last shot was fired was instantly rmdied , and tho crowd then pursued their way up town ,
and quietly dispersed . , . «„ " Later at night tho crowd collected orounu u office of tho Anzeiger de Western , when tho nnlW wore ordered out by tho mayor , and , having loin , kept tho block where tho offlco is situated clonr uih . Into hour in tho night . Tho office appeared ™ w sorted , tho inmates probably expecting an nttacic " The city , " adds your nonchalant contonip "" j » is to Pleasant consolation is ui ¦»
—"perfectly quiet ^ lay . " " poneoiiy quieD -uuy . j «> ° """ - ,. tho those who have lout fathers , or sons , or brothow , i ^ " riot ! " Beautiful illustration this of " tho , rig ^ urnifl , " and tho uho thereof , in this in f ° V'Lch freedom , whoso " glorious liberty , " both <« ^ and notion , ( not without invidioun reference to <> ^ benighted state , ju comparison , ) we never hour- g of ! Only site persons killed , and five or »» ; ntiy wounded « by shotx ! " Only two houses » " •
, riddled" and " burned to tho ground V « nuttinff Jloliold the * natural and direct result <> l : I j - | rifleH in tho pooplo ' H handn , " and dulling i « i ^ from truth and justice to rude passion ' <»< { jjJH it ) foreo ! And yet tho policy which imm'h J- lcur seriously recommended to our adop tion . —* ^ ' . ^ sir , yours , &o ., ( Liverpool , 80 th April , 1862 .
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492 THE LEADER . tSATijRDAT , I
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THE DEBUT DODttE . An attempt was made , on Wednesday , to adjourn tho Maynooth debato to Wednesday next , " tho Derby day , " to tho groat horror of all true parliamentary mon . They cried " Oh ! " which is tho strongest possiblo expression of parliamentary animadversion . Tho reason is this . All orthodox men , except Low-Church sainta and Anti-Irish enthusiasts , must have gono to Epsom to support our institutions—for tho raco-courso is not to bo postponed , ovon to tho Church . Now , if tho debate had boon adjourned to
that day , tlio saints and enthusiasts would have been loft at tho raorcy of tho Irish Brigauo and non-aristocratic radicals , who have not , liko mon of good family , a pro-Bcriptivo obligation to go to Epsom , and spend their money in . making mistakes as to tlio probable success of other men ' s horsos . By this device , tho Maynooth question would have been shelved . Unluckily , however , tho Epaomolaters woro not obliged to bo absent last Wednesday , bo thoy succeeded in keeping up tho dobato till six , and Epsom course will not bo tho lobby of a vain division .
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rAKI . IAMENTAn . Tr DUST . DujiiNO tho unroportod dobato on Wodnosdny , in tho JJouso of Commons , on tho motion thut " fcho Houso do adjourn till Friday , " Mr . Wakloy appealed to tho atomio sympathies of honourable members , on tho Parliamentary Dust question . Ho related how an honourablo mombor , tho night boforo , had stood up in his placo below tho gangway , and exhibited two volumes , which ho had brought into tho Houao clean and gloHsy , now all covorod with dusfc . Mr . Wakloy called upon 1-ho . Govornmont to aympathiso with tho oxcitomont of tho honourablo ownor of tho dimmed folios , and to protest against tho underground practices of Dr , Eoid , who was continually blowing dust in tho oyos of honourable momborfl , and soiling their hands when accidentally laid updh tho molecular onomy . Tho honourablo mombor for Finsbury must have intondod boing Hiitiriml upon tho " Collective Wisdom . " Honourablo
members are not always particular about going t constituents with clean hands . Indeed , we scared V ^ an instance in which a constituency feel at all cert '^^ finding their representative in a state pf digital t > * Arid considering how often honourable members tbv ^ dust into the eyes of the country , we ar o ofopinion fhl there must be a demand for dust in the House of C mons , and that Dr . Reid has only testified his knowl ^ of the prospective legiglatorial patriotism , by providin supply . ^
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* In our next papor wo propose to givo a familiar oxplanation of tho Oh . OYftli . er Ctoueson ' p now method of proporing flax ,
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There is no learned man but will confess he hath much profite&by reading controversies , his senses awakened . and his judgment sharpened . If , then , itbe profitable for him to read , why should it not , at least , be tolerable for Ms adversary , to write . — Milton .
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Leader (1850-1860), May 22, 1852, page 492, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1936/page/16/
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