Reasons for the speedy Sowing great quantities of Flax and Hemp in this Kingdom for the carrying on the Linnen Manufacture already set up .

WHereas Their Most Sacred Majesties King William and Queen Mary ( out of Their Princely Wisdom and Care of this Kingdom , and for the bringing down the greatest Enemy of it , the French King ) have been Graciously pleased at the humble Petition of N. D. Esquire , and H. Million , and divers Honourable Worthy Gentlemen which did joyn with them , to Erect a Corporation , for the Setting up , and perpetual Establishing a Linnen Manufacture in England , by their Letters Patents bearing date May 27. 1690.

And whereas the said Corporation for the better Establishing the said Manufacture in all parts of the Kingdom , and for the advancing Land thereby , and setting the Poor on Work , have pursuant to the said Letters Patents , admitted divers worthy Patriots to be Members of their Corporation , and thereby have raised a very considerable Stock , consisting of many Thousands of Pounds . And whereas also they have already set up the Linnen Manufacture , and made a very considerable progress in it , at Salisbury Exchange in London , and elsewhere , and have about six Thousand People at work already , and intend from thence to Branch it into other Parts of the Kingdom , with all convenient speed . And lastly , Whereas the said Corporation , that they may be supply'd with Materials of English Growth , in the making all sorts of Linnen ( for the greater benefit of the Nation , and the better answering the Ends of their Incorporation . ) This Paper is now sent abroad , by a Lover of his Kingdom the better to publish and make known these things , and thereby to advance a work so beneficial to the whole Kingdom , as also to lay before all Countrey Farmers , and Occupiers of Land , the following Reasons why they should contribute their part to it , in the fullest manner , and with the greatest cheerfulness , by Sowing forth with as great quantities of Flax and Hemp , as their present conveniences will enable them to do . The Reasons are these .

1. That the Fleet , the great Bulwark of the Nation , and all the Merchants Ships of England , may be supplied with Sails and Cordage the next year , and that all the people of the Kingdom may be supplied with Linnen of all sorts for their many necessary uses , and all this by our own Work , and our own Materials , without sending Money out of the Nation , for that which may be had within it .

2. Because Corn and Cattel are so cheap ( and there is so vast a store of the former ) that they will not pay the Rent of their Lands , and the necessary Charges bestow'd upon them , but Flax and Hemp will do much more , because they bear a double Crop at the same time , one of Seed and another of Flax or Hemp , both which Crops will be very considerable the next year , for the Seed will be bought up at good Rates to Sow again , and the Flax and Hemp cannot be cheap , because Linnen Cloth is excessively dear already , and likely to be dearer ( because scarcer ) before the next Crop of Flax and Hemp will come to make Cloth . I need not mention the great gains which some Men have made of their Crops of Flax this last year , who have paid all their Charge , and the Rent of their Land with the Flax Seed .

But this I must say , that ( in all probability ) their Gains will not be less , if they be not greater the next year . And 't is every ones Interest , to put in for a share of the first and greatest profit , which will be the greater , because many men will not venture , till they see the success of their Neighbours , and others will be long unwilling to go out of their old Road , though the new path be much better for them .

3. Because the more Corn is sown in England , and the more Cattel bred and fatted this year , the cheaper will the present stock of Corn and Cattel become , which now lies dead upon the Farmers hands , and the cheaper will the stock be also which they shall raise , and add to it either in this , or in the following year . Therefore those that Occupy Lands ( whether they be Farmers or Owners ) must turn as much Arable , and as much Grazing Land as they can to Flax and Hemp .

4. Because if the Linnen Manufacture does not go on in England ( whether for want of a sufficient quantity of Flax and Hemp , or by other discouragements of the English themselves ) the greatest part of the poor will have no work ( or very little ) and therefore no Money , and then they cannot buy , either of the Farmer , the Butcher , the Baker , or the Shopkeeper . and yet they must and will be fed and clothed . And therefore on that supposition , the Landlord , the Farmer , the Shopkeeper , and the rest that have something , must then keep the Poor in all things , and that also though their own condition will be very much worsted at the same time , by the fall of Land , by the breaking of Tenants , by the loss of Trade , and by the cheapness of all Inland Commodities . Besides , they must all pay Taxes too at the same time . But if the Linnen Manufacture go on and prosper apace ( as hitherto it doth beyond expectation ) the Poor will have work , and by consequence Money , ( for the Linnen Corporation pay all their Workmen ready Money as soon as their work is done ) and by consequence the Poor will then buy with their own Money which themselves have Earned , the Commodities of the Farmer and the Tradesmen . And then the Farmer will live and pay Rent to his Landlord , and the Shopkeeper will look up , for all their Goods and Commodities will rise , and their great charge to the Poor will abate , and more provisions ( of Corn , Cattel , and other things , ) will be spent in the Nation than are at present , for when Men Earn Money they must spend it , and when they work hard , they will find it necessary to eat more than while they live Idle , or have but half Imployment . And then also they will wear out more of all kinds of Cloaths as well as of Working Instruments . Thus will the condition of all be very much better'd , and all be enabled to pay Taxes , which would not now be so heavy upon the middle sort of People , or any other , if Corn and Cattel sold well , if Rents were well paid , and Tradesmen had a full Trade , or but tolerable good Custom .

5. Because as those Publick Spirited Persons , who by their Joint-Endeavours have now raised a great Stock of Money for the Linnen Manufacture ought by no means to be discouraged , that shall Endeavour to furnish us with English Linnen , and other Goods , because their good is evidently the Nations good , and because they have supplied the great defect ( the want of a large Stock ) which has much hindered the success of the Linnen Manufacture in England , as oft as attempted by worthy Persons in times past , so if they be discouraged , and that Manufacture hinder'd amongst us now , now we have such a favourable opportunity to set it up ( during the present War with France , and the prohibition of all French Linnen ) we shall never retrieve it , we shall never have the like opportunity again . And if the Corporation to make Linnen , have not English Flax and Hemp sufficient for the year ensuing , they must either buy Forreign , or their Manufacture will be at a stand , and if they do so , and buy a considerable deal , Forreign Linnen Yarn ( as well as Flax and Hemp ) will come in in such quantities , and become so cheap , that you will not easily keep it out another year , nor regain the Ground you will lose this next . For all Trade does run in a Channel , and will not be presently diverted , or break its setled course .

CHAP. I. Of the Soil .

MOst sorts of Soils are fit , or may be made fit with good manuring , to sow Hemp or Flax upon ; the best is accounted to be a warm , sandy ground mixed with Earth , and of this sort of Earth fit places to sow Hemp on , are old Meadows grown over with Moss , old Stack-yards , and places kept in the Winter for the Lair of Sheep or Cattel .

If your ground is something barren , you may enrich it as you do all other sorts of grounds .

The ground fit for Hemp , may serve in many respects for to sow Flax ; but Flax being of a more tender nature , requireth also a more tender care , both for chusing and manuring the ground you will sow it upon ; you must therefore make these following observations .

The goodness and fineness of Flax dependeth much upon the nature of the Soil ; for upon heavy and rotten Moorish ground , groweth that Flax , which is called great black Flax ; upon black and light ground , groweth Flax which is of the colour of Steel ; if your ground is of several colours , the Flax that shall grow upon it will participate of the nature of the Soil , and so will be of several colours too .

It w●ll thrive in any good sound Land , be it in what Countrey soever ; and that ground is best which hath lain long unplowed : As aforesaid the most fertile Soil is the best .

CHAP. II . How to Till the Ground .

AFter you have found your best ground , make it fit to sow your Hemp or Flax , that it may the easier incorporate it self with the Earth , to render it fit for your purpose . About the beginning of May , in a fair season , break up your ground with a strong Plough , such as are generally used in all strong Clay grounds , the Share being rather long than broad , and the Coulter rather somewhat bending than straight , and even , according as the nature of the ground shall require ; which you will soon find out in turning up two or three Furrows ; for according to the cutting of the Earth , you must fashion the temper of your Plough . To plow your Land well , you must throw down your Furrows flat , and betwixt every Furrow you shall leave a baulk of Earth half as broad as the Furrow , and so go over and plow your whole Earth up , without making any difference or distinction of Lands : But if you fear any annoyance of water , then you shall lay your Furrows more high ; near , and close together , dividing the ground into several Lands , and proportioning every Land to lye the highest in the middle , so that the water may have a descent or passage on either side .

The ground where you sow your Hemp , would be like that where you sow Barley , or at least as often broken up , as you do when you fallow for Wheat , which is thrice , except it be some very mellow and ripe mould , as usual Hemp-Lands be , and then twice breaking up is sufficient , which must be done about the latter end of February , and the latter end of April , at which time you shall sow it .

The ground for Flax must be ordered in the same manner , observing this , that the best Land yields the best Flax , and raiseth the best Improvement . The Land must be well plowed and laid flat , and even . The best Land is old Meadows , which you must break up after mowing-time ; plow it again about Christmas , again in February , and April , then make it very fine . And note that poor Land bringeth a bad Crop , light starveth , and withereth your Crop ; too stiff bringeth most Bun or Pith , and very little Rind or Flax .

CHAP. III . Of the Seed , and the manner of Sowing .

THE best Seed for Hemp is the smoothest , roundest , and brightest , of a bright Colour , with the least dust in it ; you must observe to Sow it reasonable thick , and not to lay it too deep in the Earth , but cover it close , light , and with so fine a Mould as you can possibly break with your small Harrows , then till you see it appear above the Earth , you must tend it very carefully , especially an hour or two before Sun-rising , and as much before Sun-setting , for Birds , and other Vermine will pick the Seed out of the Earth . Your Ground being Cultivated in Autumn , will by the Winter Frosts be fit to receive your Seed ; the latter end of March , or the beginning of April , the Moon being in the Wain , or declining , is a fit Season to sow your Seed , which you must immediately cover with the Earth , with a fine Harrow , or Bush , Harrowing it several times ; if after that , you spread over it some Pidgeon dung , will be very useful to your Hemp , provided it may be done in moist Weather , for without moistness , the great heat of such Dung would burn the Seed .

The best Seed for Flax , is the cleanest , newest , and largest , heaviest , brightest , round and plump , all of one Colour , especially at the sharp end , free from Worms , or Mites , which by curious inspection may be seen without the help of Glasses ; but the surest way to chuse the best , is to sow a little upon a hot Bed , numbring how many Grains you sow , in a Drachm , or any other weight ; and observe how many come up , and how many do shoot above one shoot a piece ; the Seed that was gathered from the first Crop of new broken up Ground is the best of all others ; the second Crop is indifferent , but the third is not fit to be sowed , but will yield good Oyl .

This Seed must be sowed in a warm Season , immediately after plowing at any time in April . That Seed that cometh from the East Countrey is usually very good , although it costs dear , yet it will easily repay the charge , and will last indifferent well , two Crops , then it is best to renew it again : But our own Countrey Seed is as good as any , being well managed by a constant change . Of the best , two Bushels may serve on an Acre , but more of our English Seed , because it groweth smaller ; you must be sure to sow it on good Land , the best Ground requireth to be thickest sowed ; wet the underside of your Thumb , lay it upon the Ground , observe if it take up five , six or seven Seeds at once , accordingly you may judge proportionably to the goodness of the Ground ; if you have under sowed , ( which generally most err in ) it gives room to Weeds , and makes the Flax grow course , and spread into Branches , which yields much Tow . In a wet Summer Flax is very apt to lodge , and be spoiled , which may be prevented as soon as you have done sowing , by sticking all over the Ground branches or cuttings of Trees , or Hedge-rows of two years growth , standing or leaning , not above a foot and half high above Ground , which will prevent the Flax to lodge ; if the Seed be more than just covered in fine dust , it will hardly come up , in case the Wind dry or wither the Seed , before or after it is sowed , and you will lose your Crop ; sow in temperate dry weather , but not when the East , or North Wind bloweth very hard .

CHAP. IV . Of Harrowing and Weeding .

YOur Ground being thus plowed and sowed , be careful to harrow it into as fine mould as you can ; now if your Ground be sown with Hemp , you shall not need to Weed it at all , because Hemp is so swift a grower , and such a Poyson unto all the Weeds , that it overrunneth , choaketh , and destroyeth them .

The same must be done concerning Flax , observing this only , that as it is much more a tender Seed , which brings forth more tender Leaves and Branches , you must watch what Weeds you see spring up , and in their first growth pluck them up , and throw them away , till you see your Flax to be grown above the Weeds , and then you may let it alone , for after it hath once gotten heighth , the Weeds won't over-grow it , and so can do it no harm . But the Ground should be such as will produce as few Weeds as possible , weeding being dangerous .

CHAP. V. How to know when Hemp and Flax are ripe , and the manner of pulling and seasoning of them .

YOU will know that your Hemp is ripe , when the stalk is grown white , or when you see the Leaves fall downward and turn yellow at the tops , for then it is full ripe ; this will happen for the most part about the middle of July . As for the pulling of Hemp , it must be pulled up by the Roots , and not cut as Corn , and the best time for the pulling of it , is when it is full ripe ; this is for pulling of Hemp for to make Cloth , but if you intend to save any for Seed , you must save the principal stalks and let them stand till the latter end of August , or sometime till the middle of September following , and then when you see your Seed turn brown and hard , gather it , for if it stand longer it will shed very much .

Flax is to be pulled in the same manner as Hemp , and it must be pulled when you see the Seed turn brown , and bend the head to the earth-ward ; for it will afterward ripen of it self , as the stalk drieth . Observe that the Flax ripeneth a little after Hemp , and set apart the Plants which bear no Seed to distinguish them .

And for the seasoning of Hemp or Flax , so soon as you have pulled it , you must lay it all along flat and thin upon the ground , for a day and a night at the most , and no more , and then tie it up in bundles , and rear them upright upon the ground , till you can carry them to the water , which is to be done as speedily as may be .

CHAP. VI . Of Watering of Hemp or Flax .

FOR watering , the best water is the running stream , and the worst is the standing Pool ; yet because Hemp is offensive to Fish , it is fitter to use such Pits and Ditches as are less subject to annoyance , except you live near some broad and swift streams , and then in the shallow part thereof you may water your Hemp without danger . You must water it in this manner ; Knock to the quantity of your Hemp four or six stakes in each row into the bottom of the water , and set them squarewise , then lay your bundles of Hemp down under the water , the thick end of your bundle one way , and the thick end of another bundle another way ; and so lay bundle upon bundle , till you have laid in all , and that the water covereth them all over ; then you shall put over-lyers of wood , and binding them over-thwart to the stakes , keep the Hemp down close , and especially at the four corners , then take great Stones and lay between and over the over-lyers , and so cover the Hemp close , that it may not stir , and so let it continue in the water four days and nights , if it be in a running water ; but if it be in a standing water , let it continue a little longer ; and then take out one of the uppermost bundles and wash it ; if in the washing you see the Leaf come off , you may be sure the Hemp is watered enough : As for the Flax , less time will serve it , and will shed the Leaf in three nights ; and to know if it be sufficiently watered , dry a little of it , break and rub it , and the bun or pith will all come clean out .

CHAP. VII . Of Washing out of Hemp , and Drying and Rippling of Flax .

WHEN your Hemp or Flax is thus watered , take off the Stones , Over-lyers , or Wood , and unloosen it from the stakes ; then take and wash out every bundle severally by it self , and rub it exceeding clean , leaving not a Leaf upon it , nor any filth within it ; then set it upon the dry Earth upright , that the water may drain from it , which done , rear it up either against hedges , pales , walls , back-sides of houses , or such like , where it may have the full strength or reflection of the Sun , and being throughly dryed , then house it .

You must observe , that though you may carry your Hemp to the water within a night or two after the pulling , the same is not to be done with Flax , but it must be reared up , dryed and withered a week or more , to ripen the Seed , which being done , take Ripple Combs , and ripple your Flax over , which is the beating or breaking off from the stalks the round bells or bobs which containeth the seed , which you must preserve in a dry Vessel or place till the Spring of the year , and then beat it or thresh it , and when your Flax is rippled , then send it to the water .

CHAP. VIII . Of Breaking and Swingling of Hemp or Flax .

AFter your Hemp or Flax hath been watered , dryed and housed , you may then at your pleasure break it , which is to be done in a brake of wood ( whose proportion is so ordinary , that every one almost knows it ) then break and beat out the dry bun of the Hemp or Flax from the rind which covers it , and when you break either , you shall do it as near as you can on a fair , dry , Sun-shine day , observing to set forth your Hemp and Flax , and spread it thin before the Sun , that it may be as dry as Tinder before it come to the brake ; for if either in the lying close together it shall give again or sweat , or through the moistness of the Air or place where it lies , receive any dampishness , you must necessarily have it dryed sufficiently again , or else it will never break well , nor the bun fall from the rind as it should ; but if the weather be not seasonable , and you have occasion to use your Hemp or Flax , you shall then spread it upon a Kiln , and making a soft fire under it , dry it upon the same ; but because this is oft-times dangerous , and much hurt hath been received thereby through casualty of fire , I would advise you to stick four stakes in the Earth , at least five foot above the ground , and laying over them small over-lyers of wood , and open fleaks or hurdles upon the same , spread your Hemp , and also rear some round about it , but at one open side , then with straw , small shavings , or other light dry wood , make a soft fire under it , and so dry it , and break it ; this will be done without any danger ; and as you break it , you shall open your Hemp or Flax which you hold by handful , and look into it , beginning alwaies to break the root-ends first ; and when you see the bun is sufficiently crusht , fallen away ; or at most hangeth but in very small shivers within the Hemp or Flax , then it is brakt enough ; and then that which was before called a bait or bundle , is now called a strike , lay them together , and so house them . This is best done in a large great Oven , because it is not discoloured by the Smoke .

Now that your Hemp or Flax may break so much the better , you must have for Hemp two several braks ; one must be an open and wide-tooth'd , or nickt brak , and the other a close and a straight-tooth'd brak ; the first being to crush the bun , and the latter to beat it forth . Now for Flax , you must first take that which is the straighter for the Hemp , and then after one of purpose , much straighter and sharper ; for the bun of it being more small , tough , and thin , must necessarily be broken into much less pieces . This must be used by a person used to break and swingle Hemp and Flax .

After your Hemp and Flax is brakt , swingle it , which is done upon a swingle-tree block , made of an half Inch board about four foot above ground , and set upon a strong foot or stock , that will not easily move and stir ; and with a piece of wood , called the Swingle-tree-dagger , made in the shape and proportion of an old Dagger , with a reasonable blunt edge , you shall beat out all the loose buns and shivers that Hang in the Hemp or Flax , opening and turning it from one end to the other , till you can perceive no bun nor shiver in it ; and then striking a twist and fold in the midst , which is ever the thickest part of the strike , lay them by till you have swingled all ; the general profit whereof , is not only the beating out of the hard bun , but also an opening and softening of the Tear , whereby it is prepared and made ready .

Your Hemp and Flax being once swingled over , take and shape up the refuse stuff which you beat from the same severally , and not only it , but the tops and knots , and half brakt filth or waste , which fall from the brake also , and drying them again , cause them to be very well thresht with Flails , and mixing them with the refuse which fell from the Swingle-tree ; dress them all well with threshing and shaking , till they be clean : If you have no occasion to use them for the present , lay them in some safe dry place till you have occasion . You call these Swingle-tree hurds : That which comes from the Hemp will make window-cloth , and such like course stuff ; and that which comes from the Flax , being a little towed again in a pair of Tow-cards , will make a course harding , and this is sufficient for the Market , and for ordinary sale . But if you do intend to make Cloth , after your Hemp or Flax hath been swingled once over , you must swingle over a second time ; and as the first swingling did take away the filth , and soften the rind ; so this will break and divide , and prepare it for the Heckle ; the Hurds which are the second time beaten off , you must also save ; for that of the Hemp ( being carded ) will make a good Hempen-Harding , and that which comes from the Flax ( used in that manner ) a Flax-Harding , better than the former .

FINIS .