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Leader (1850-1860), 7th August 1852, Edition Town of 2, Page 757

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      Untitled Article

      nf France , and not for our own , we are now so eedlessly afflicted in London Btreets , and all France , to a man , would rush to arms . At present we find him isolated from all the vital forces of the country . Odilon Barrot , once his confidential adviser , denounces , in strong words , the usurper and the despot , to whose liberti ' cide measures he , the Minister of the Reaction and the instrument of the Parliamentary Darty of Order , was once accessory—before the fact Odilon Barrot is a justly respected name in France , but he is now suffering the penalty of his own distrust of Liberty , and of his own connivance with oppression .

      Untitled Article

      THE CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENT . I . * ' It is evident that though things of nature are given in common vet man , by being master of himself and pro p rietor oi his own person , and the actions or labour of it , had still in himself the great foundation of property . " — Locke : Of Civil Government . ( To the Editor of the Leader . ) Sir , —After the excitement of a contested election , I willingly return to the calm discussion of those social and economical questions which have been thrust , by the sheer force of circumstances , upon the attention of the most eminent statesmen in Europe . To avoid or to ignore such questions would be worse than folly ; and I maintain that it is for the interest and security of society that they should be fully and fairly discussed , as the brief popularity and real danger of false or impracticable theories must arise from the ignorance of the people , or from the arbitrary intolerance of despotic governments . Thanks to our representative institutions and limited monarchy , no party in this country has power to arrest the progressive development of freedom and intelligence ; and the fruitless efforts of a titled

      Partington to mop out the political " deluge" with the old rags of protection are simply ridiculous . Social reformers , however , who are alike opposed to Whig shams or to Tory mysteries , claim the privilege of studying the moral and physical laws by which man , as a rational , and therefore responsible being , is governed ; and they believe that it is by the free and temperate exercise of all his faculties , and by the full enjoyment of all his civic rights and privileges , that the body politic will be gradually restored to a sound and healthy condition .

      Before I proceed with the investigation of the practical working of co-operative principles , it may be expedient to define clearly the broad line of demarcation between the voluntary principle of Association and the various economical systems known under the names of Communism and Socialism . The laws and conditions which regulate the production of wealth partake of the character of physical truths . Unlike the laws of production , those of distribution are of human institution ,

      although men cannot arbitrarily determine how such institutions shall work . Onco produced , however , mankind , individually or collectively , can place the instruments of human subsistence and enjoyment at the disposal of whomsoever they please , and on whatever terms . The distribution of wealth , thorefore , tha produce of land and of labour , depends on the customs and laws passed by the general consent of society , and different modes of distribution have been adopted in practice , and may bo conceived in theory . The public recognition of the right of individual possession is the fundamental principle on

      which the economical arrangements of modern society are based ; but private proporty , as an institution , did not , owe its origin to those considerations of utility which now plead for its maintenance . Tribunals were originally established , not to determine rights , but to repress violence , and to givo legal efl ' eot to first occupancy . . Hut the Hocial urmngernentu of modern Europe commenced from a distribution of property which was the result of conquest and violence ; mid notwithstanding what industry has boon , doing

      for centuries to modify tho work of force , tho laws of property have never yet conformed to tho prindplo on which' tho justification of property rests . They have raaito proporty of things which never ought to have been appropriated , and absolute property Avhero only a qualified ri tfht ought ; to exist . They have not held tho balance fairly , but have heaped impediments upon Home in order to givo advantages . to others , and have purposely fostered inequalities . It is not , however , the subversion of the Hystoui of individual proporty that wlwuld , bo aimed , at . but

      the improvement of it , and the participation of every member of the community in its benefits . And we have now the difficult task before us of solving what Mr . Burke has termed " one of the finest problems in legislation—namely , to determine what the State ought to take upon itself to direct by the public wisdom , and what it ought to leave , with as little interference as possible , to individual exertion . " In another letter , I propose to contrast the modern systems of Communism , Socialism , and Co-operative Association . I remain yours , faithfully , "WlLI / TAM COKINGHAM . Sussex-square , Kemptown , July 27 th .

      Untitled Article

      ON THE CULTIVATION OP FLAX . * VI . In our anxiety not to lose the passing season , our directions to flax growers , in onr first article on 1 st May , were summed up in very few words . We will , now that our flax field is supposed to be deeply dug and reduced to a fine tilth , proceed to remark upon the process of sowing , and on the nature of the seed proper to yield a good fibre . Much has been urged in favour of foreign seed for this purpose , and there is no doubt that good Riga seed is very eligible , — maintaining a superiority over American seed , inasmuch

      as the latter has the character of producing a stem of a coarse nature , and much given to brandling out , instead of running up in a single stalk with merely a few seed capsules at the head . But Eng lish or Irish seed , of good weight , and o a clean , shining appearance , may be selected with as much confidence as that from Riga , eare , however , being in every ease taken to fan it clear of all admixture with the seeds of weeds . It will be obvious that the expense and labour of this operation will be amply repaid by the outlay saved in future weedings , and it is impossible to be too particular in this business . If the seed be first fanned in

      the ordinary machine , and then sifted in a wire sieve of twelve bars to the inch , the object will be accomplished . It is said that seed of only a year old is apt to yield a stalk very abundant in wood , gum , and seed , but somewhat deficient in fibre ; while that of two years old is preferred by growers of fine flax . If the doctrine be correct , that the fibre is derived f rom the atmosphere , we should infer that the larger the surface exposed to its influence , the more abundant tlie fibre would be , and we think that there can be no objection to use the seed of the previous season , provided it be sown sufficiently thick to ensure its running up to a fair height before

      throwing out its seed branches . However that may be . it , is pretended by Mr . Donlan ( the advocate , and . we believe , the inventor , of the dry process , properly so-called , ) that some old seed , which he had submitted to a chemical preparation , yielded a much larger return of fibre than unprepared Riga seed sown on the same day , in the same field , on the estate of an Irish landlord , and there is , as we know , abundant evidence of the fact . What this preparatory process is we are at present ignorant of , but , as we understand that Mr .

      Donlan has lately obtained a patent for Ins various useful discoveries in the preparation of flax , the specification cannot long remain secret . It is not impossible , that by supplying some oily matter to old seed , deficient in this property , the first lino roots of the plant may be afforded , artificially , that nutriment of which it bad been deprived owing to the drying up of the outer gelatinous covering of tho linseed , and thus a healthy growth may possibly bo more surely depended upon . Jf this bo the end of Mr . Donlan ' s discovery , and in

      presence of reputable evidence of its bucccss in an isolated experiment , we should not hesitate to use plump fresh need of tho previous year ' s growth as likely to produce a fine crop . Rapid vegetation being as desirable for flax Mown at the proper period of tho year , and when there in no longer any danger of severe frosts , as it is for garden " marrowfats , " or other produce peculiar to tho spring , we believe that Mr . Donlan , in applying his chemical compound to linseed , also imparts n certain degree of heat , ho that his prepared need starts into life shortly after sowing , and soon gets ahead of that which " in unprepared . This is a very important advantage , and induces uh to look with more than usual anxiety for the specification of Mr . Donlan ' s patent , which , when published , we way probably lay before our readers .

      Wo strongly advise the fannor to allot , an aero or two of land for tho solo purposo of producing linseed , cither for his own use at sowing time , or , what is better , to exchange * with his neighbour , whoso noil way in some respects differ from his own . The quantity of Heed per aero for this purpose should not exceed ono and a bull bushels , and we think it well worth the experiment of drilling this portion of the flax crop in place of sowing it broadcast . In this case wo should place tho drills about ten or twelve inches asunder , and keop them well

      hoed . By pursuing this treatment we should anticipate a great increase to the produce of seed , and the result will probably be not less , at any rate , than twenty bushels per acre , which will , in time , suffice to sow about eight acres for the regular crop of fibre the following year . This portion of the crop should be suffered to become pevfectly ripe before pulling .

      When tbe plough is used , it is usual to roll the land and break it lip again with a seed harrow before sowing , in order to give an even surface to the field , and prevent inequality in the height of the crop ; but by our system of fork husbandry this expense may be avoided if the workmen have done their duty . We have supposed that the last forking has been given about the first week in April , and if the weeds have been well turned in , the seed may be sown at the rate

      of from two and a half to three bushels per statute acre , while the earth is fresh , and , in all cases , dry weather is necessary for this process . It must be sown broadcast , with a perfectly even hand , and the farmer should put his best hands to work for the purpose . It is desirable to mark off the land in breadths of about twelve feet , in order to regulate the sowing witli proper precision . As soon as the seed is sown , a seed harrow should pass over the field , once up and down , and , lastly , across , in order to spread the seed . This should be followed by a light rolling , and the operation of sowing linseed is then complete . It is scarcely necessary to add that if the roller be applied in . wet weather , or after rain , the earth will adhere to it , and the seed too , and that the farmer who follows this practice deserves to be harrowed and rolled himself .

      It is the fashion in some flax districts to sow clover or grass seeds with the flax , and it is found that the operation of pulling the latter is of great benefit to the young herbage . This is , no doubt , perfectly true , but the damage done to the lower part of the flax plants much outweighs the advantages given to the grass , and we strongly advise our readers to follow no such greedy example . Still more do we reprobate the practice of sowing carrots in drills on the flax bed , notwithstanding that it has the sanction of the Royal Irish Flax Society . The cultivation of flax is profitable enough without such aids as these , and we are in favour of seeing

      every crop grown in its appointed rotation , and of having " everything in its place . " The flax crop will be cleared oft" early in August , in ample time to steal another crop ere winter sets in , and there can scarcely be a better preparation for a good crop of winter tares , rape , or stone turnips , than that afforded by the previous tillage for , and the pulling of , the flax crop . We suggest thsvt a bod or two of rape should be sown in the latter end of June , and the plants set out on the cleared flax bed after the first shower . This is a very hardy plant , and bears removal readily . The produce of green forage in the month of April will well repay the cost of transplanting , and every farmer is too sensible of his deficiency of succulent herbage for his ewes and lambs at that pinching season of the year , to

      neglect our recommendation . Ono great advantage of rape over tares , as a successor to flux , in the same year , is , that they may be folded off with sheep , in time to prepare tho ground for a crop of . Swedes or mangold wur / el , to be sown early in May ; whereas , the tares are scarcely ever fit for cutting until the latter month , and tho season is then too far advanced for preparing the land for Swedes . Stone turnips may certainly follow flax , but it is not always that so late a sowing succeeds . The weather is generally very dry in August and September , and therefore hostile to turnips . Wo must pronounce in favour of rape , either sown on tho flax field , after pulling time , or transplanted as wo have just suggested unless it is intended to allow a crop of fares to run to seed and hay , and then tho choice must be determined by the wants of the farmer .

      We havo been led into these remarks upon the crop which may bo stolen after flux , perhaps rather prematurely in the opinion of some of our readers , who may think that we should lirst have given directions for harvesting our crop , before wo alluded to its successor ; but it is a very proper subject for consideration at this stage , when we hear so much of mixing gra « s Heed or carrot seed with flax ; and if we deprive tho agriculturist of this questionable advantage , wo think wo are right in showing him that we have something better to odor . Besides , he is a poor farmer , and

      certainly in need of much artificial " protection , " cannot carry hi * thoughts forward a icw months in advance of the current season , and detor ^ rihio his future operations in his various fields . These should bo n « regularly entered in his mind as he would enter in his diary a note that a bill of exchange « t three months ' date , given or received on tho first of Juno , would full due on or about tho fust of September ; mid the fanner , deficient in this Hinall amount of foresight , had better turn his attention to some other pursuit , in which Homebody clwo may think for him I

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      * YiUvXivudvr , iiu » . 110 , " , 113 , U 4 ,, 11 & .

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      August 7 , 1852 . ] THE LEADER . » W . - — ¦ "" " — ' - " ¦ ' ¦¦ - - « i - ¦ ¦ |_ J _ 1 ^________ J _ J ___ _____—_____ , _ , _ , __ M _ , __________ . ____ —» , _—_—__ - _ -aMBI ____ - — - ^»~ -W ~«^^*^^^^ ' l" ^^>' W ^ ^^ ' ^^ ' W' *^^^"" 1 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ¦— - —¦»

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 7, 1852, page 757, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1946/page/17/