8. Linum sativum. Buugh. Pin. 213. Blackw. t. 160. 7. Linum sativum humilius, flore majore. Boerh. Lugdb. 1. p. 284.

L. fhumile) calycibus capsulisque mucronatis, petalis emarginatis, foliis lanceolatis alternis, caule ramoso. Mill. Dict. n. 2. R.

♪. Linum sativum latifolium africanum, fructu majore. Tournef. Inst. 339.

Habitat hodie inter segetes Europa australis.

The soil of every Flower-garden is always rich enough to produce good Flar; but if it is loamy rather than sandy, the quantity will be nearly double: even in the. fields, which can never be cultivated with the nicety of a gentleman's garden, I have observed the greatest crops in a loamy soil, and that they yielded an article superior in quality as well as quantity: for as the durability of the fibre depends in some measure upon its size, there can be no doubt that tall and vigorous plants are preferable to small ones.

There are various ways of disposing this plant so as to. be exceedingly ornamental, but none more so than scattering it in random parcels, or little clumps of from 10 to 20 plants, towards the back of the flower-borders, and in the front of the shrubbery for without the summer proves uncommonly dry, it will attain to the height of three and four feet. If a temporary edging, or summer screen is wanting for any particular bed, it may be also employed for this purpose.

The seeds of good Flax are short, plump, thick, very oily, and of a bright brown colour. The best season for sowing them, in most gardens, is February, or the beginning of March, when the general crop of hardy

annuals

annuals are put in; but if the ground be sandy, and naturally dry, they should be sown in October or November. No more attention than what is necessary for the other flowers in the garden, which is keeping down all weeds, while in the seed leaf, with a hoe, will be

requisite for this. As soon as the seed begins to ripen, and the plants turn yellow, pull the whole up by the roots, and lay it in bundles exposed to the full sun, if the weather is fine, to dry completely. Then pull the heads off, and shake out the seeds. Immediately after, it must be laid to macerate in a ditch, or pond of water, and kept under by a long piece of timber floating upon it. From five to ten days is the time necessary for its immersion, and after the fifth, it must be examined daily, taking especial care that it does not lie too long. As soon as ever you find the fibres are sufficiently macerated to separate from one another kindly, spread it out to dry upon a new mown meadow. When dry it must be again collected into bundles, and either sent to the Flax dresser, or prepared for spinning at home by the gardener's wife. In many districts, this operation is well understood, and if carefully performed, home, spun linen from such Flax will last twice the time of most of the Irish linen that is now to be purchased in our shops.

I believe it is a great error to pull the Flar so green as is commonly practised, and a still greater to soak it in water, before it is previously dried: for the fibres require twice the time to macerate sufficiently for separation in the dressing: a process by which they are considerably weakened.

VOL. XIII. -SECOND SERIES.

Nu

Questions

Questions proposed by the Commissioners of Naval Revision, respecting the State of Oak Timber; with Answers by THOMAS DAVIS, Steward to the Marquis of Bath, at Longleat, Wilts.

From the LETTERS and PAPERS of the BATH and WEST of ENGLAND SOCIETY.

March 1807.

QUESTION 1. Has the quantity of large oak tim

ber in general, fit for the use of the navy, increased or decreased within the last fifteen years, in that part of the kingdom with which you are acquainted, naming the counties? Has the quantity of ground planted with oak timber been greater or less than the quantity cleared by grubbing up underwood, or felling timber?and where have any considerable plantations of oak timber been made?

Answer. Certainly decreased; I believe in most parts of the kingdom, but I can speak with certainty as to the counties of Wilts, Hants, Somerset, Dorset, and Devon. Very little underwood has to my knowledge been grubbed up within the last fifteen years; though large tracts had been grubbed previous to that

time.

Very few plantations of oak timber have been made in that period, that have answered, or are likely to answer, (for reasons given hereafter;) although very extensive plantations of other trees have been made during that period, and with great prospect of success.

Question 2. Has the general consumption of oak timber for building, or other uses, in the country, increased

or

or diminished within the last fifteen years, and to what purposes has such timber been generally applied?

Answer. The country uses to which oak timber is applied in the West of England, are

1st. Building and carpenter's uses in general.

2d. Joiner's and cabinet-maker's uses.

3d. Wheelwright's uses,

4th, Millwright's use,

5th. Cooper's use.

In the 1st, the use of oak is in a great measure superseded by that of deal...

2d. In joiner's uses it is superseded by deal and foreign oak, and in cabinet-maker's by mahogany.

3d. Wheelwright's consumption increased, but in no "great degree.

4th. Millwright's consumption much increased by the general use of machinery.

5th. Cooper's consumption is increased by the great demand for beer-barrels.

Upon the whole, the uses of oak for country pur. poses are decreased, and will be more so, as soon as oak timber is dearer than foreign deal, or deal become cheaper than oak. But there is in some other parts of the kingdom a great consumption (and I may say a great waste) of oak timber in the article of canal boats; and their locks use an immense quantity.

Question 3. Has the price of oak timber for carpenter's or country uses increased within the last fifteen years, and in what proportion?

Answer, Very much increased, but it ought to be re membered, that for near a century before, the price had been nearly stationary. I began selling timber in 1763, and at that time the price of oak timber of 20 feet

metings was 45s, per ton; and I have no record or tradition of a less price than 40s. for 60 years before.

N.B. The ton is 40 feet round measure...

In 1791, which is a period of 28 years, the average price of oak timber (of 20 feet per tree) was then but 46s. 8d. or 14d. per foot.

In 1796, it was increased to 56s. 8d. or 17d. per foot. In 1801, it was increased to 73s. 4d. or 22d. per foot. In 1806, it was increased to 100s. or 30d. per foot.

So that the advance in the first 63 years of the last century, was little or nothing; at the utmost only 5s, per ton.

In the next 28 years, the advance was only 1s. §d, per ton.

In the next 5 years, it was 10s. per ton,..

In the next 5 years it was 16s. 8d. per ton.'

And in the last 5 years, it has been 26s. 8d, per ton. The whole advance from 1763 to 1806 being from 45s. to 100s. or little more than double the value in 1763; not so much as the advance on cheese, butter, and many other productions of land, has been during the same period.

Question 4. Have the plantations which have been made within the last fifteen years, been chiefly of oak, or of the kinds of trees not fit for ship-building; and to what cause do you impute the circumstance of one description of timber having been preferred to another in making plantations?

Answer. Plantations are usually made on high ground for ornament, or on poor barren heaths or sand-lands, as the most profitable mode of application; and oak is not the proper tree for land of that description. It will not bear exposure to the wind on high ground, nor will