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THE CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENT *' It is evide...
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ON THE CULTIVATION OF FLAX* VI. In our a...
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Louis Napoleon And The Three Northern Po...
of France , and not for our own , we are now so needlessl y afflicted in London streets , and all Franpe , 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 ¦ narty of Order , was once accessory—before the fact . Odilon Barrot is a justl y respected name in France , but he is now suffering the penalty of his own distrust of Liberty , and of his own connivance with oppression .
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The Co-Operative Movement *' It Is Evide...
THE CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENT * ' It is evident that though things of nature are given in common yet man , by being master of himself and proprietor of his own person , and the actions or labour of it , had still in himself the great foundation of property . " — Lockb : Of Civil Government . ( To the Editor of the Leader _^ gIEj—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 sueh 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 fairl y 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 thc 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 p lace tho instruments of human subsistence and enjoyment at the disposal of whomsoever they please , and on whatever terms . Tho distribution of wealth , therefore , tho produce of land and of labour , depends on the customs and laws passed by the general consont of society , and different modes of distribution have been adopted in practice , antl may bo concoived in theory . The public recognition of the right of individual possession is tht ; fundamental principle on which tho economical arrangements of modern society aro based ; but private property , as an
institution , did not owe its origin to those considerations of utility which now p lead for its maintenance . Tribunals were originally established , not to determine rights , but tf ) repress violence , and to give legal effect to first occupancy . But thc _Bocial arrangements of modern Europe commenced from a distribution of property which was the result of conquest and violonco ; and notwithstanding what industry has been doing for centuries to modify the work of force , the
laws of property have ; never yet ; conformed te > the princi plu on which the justification of property rests . They havo made property of things which never ought to have been appropriated , antl absolute property where only a qualified right ought tt ) exist . They have not held the balance fairly , but havo neaped impediments upon some iu order to give advantages to others , ami have purposely fostered inequalities . It is not , however , the subversion of tht ) system of individual property tliat should bo aimed at , but
The Co-Operative Movement *' It Is Evide...
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 , William Coningham . Biissei-square , Kemptown , July 27 th .
On The Cultivation Of Flax* Vi. In Our A...
ON THE CULTIVATION OF FLAX * VI . In our anxiety not to lose the passing season , our directions to flax growers , in our first article on 1 st 3 tay , wero summed np 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 npon the process of sowing , and oft the nature of the seed proper to yield a good _fibrfe _' . 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 branching out , instead of running up in a single stalk with merely a few seed capsules at the head . But English or Irish seed , of good weight , and of a clean , shining appearance , may be selected with as much confidence as that from Riga , care , however , being in every case 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 , giim , 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 from the atmosphere , we should infer that the larger the surface exposed to
its influence , the more abundant the 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 , tho 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 wo understand that Mr .
Donlan has lately obtained a patent for his 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 fine roots of the plant may bo afforded , artificially , that nutriment of which it had been deprived owing- to tho drying up of thc outer gelatinous covering of the linseed , and thus a healthy growth may possibly be more surely depended upon . If-this bo the end of Mr . Demliui ' _s discovery , and in presence of reputable evidence of its success in an isolated experiment , we should not hesitate te > use plump fresh _Hetitl eif the previous year ' s growth as likely tei preiduco a fine crop .
Rapid vegetation being as desirable for flax sown at tho proper period of the year , and when there is nei longer any danger of severe frosts , iih it is for garden " marrowfats , " or other produce _jieculiar to the _spring , we believe that Mr . Donlan , in applying his chemical compound tei linseed , also imparts a certain degree of heat , _se > that his prepareel _seeel starts into life : _sheirtly after Mowing , and _seion gets ahead eif that which is unprepared . This * is a very important advantage , ami induces _ns tei _leieik with more than usual anxiet y for the specification of Mr . Donlan ' _s patent , which , when published , we may probably lav before our readers .
We strongly atlvise the farmer to allot ; an acre fir two of lunel feir the _seilo purpose of producing linseed , either few his own use at sewing time ; , e > r , what in better , to exchange with his neighbour , whoso noil may in some respects differ from his own . The quuutity of seed per acre for this purpose should not exceed ono anel a half IhihIicIh , unel we think it well worth the experiment of drilling this _jMirtiem of the flax crop in place of sowing it broadcast . In this awe wo should place tho drills about te . 'n _eir twelve inches _tiHundor , und keep them well * Vide Loader , JNoa . 110 , 112 , _liaTTl _^ TlG .
On The Cultivation Of Flax* Vi. In Our A...
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 fob lowing year . This portion of the crop should be suffered to become perfectly ripe before pulling . When the pleSugh is used , it is usual to roll the land and break it up 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 dut y . 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 with 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 _crojff grown m its appointed , rotation , and of having " everything in its place . " The flax crop will be cleared off 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 that a bed or two of rape should be sown in the latter end of June , and the plants set out ou 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 . One great advantage of rape over tares , as a successor to flax , in the same year , is , that they may be folded off with sheep , in time to prepare the ground for a crop of Swedes or mangold wurzel , to be sown early in May ; whereas , the tares are scarcely ever fit for cutting until the latter month , and the season is then too far advanced for preparing the land for Swedes . Stone turnips may certainly folleiw flax , but it is not always that se ) late a sowing succeeds . The weather is generally very dry in August anel September , and therefore hostile tt ) turnips . We must pronemncc in favour of rape , either sown on the flax fielel after pulling time , or transplanted aa we have just _Buggesteel unless it is intended tt _> allow a crop of tures to run to seeel and hay , and then the choice must be determined by the wants of the farmer .
We havo been leel into these : remarks upon the crop which may be stolen after flax , perhups rather prematurely in the opinion of some of our _reliefers , who limy think that we ( should first have give : n directions tor harvesting our crop , before wo alluded to its successor ; but it is a very proper subject for consideration at this stage ; , whe : n we ; hear so much of mixing grass seed or carrot seed with flux ; and if we deprive tho agriculturist ; of this questionable advantage , wt ; think we aro right in showing him that wt ; have something better to offer . Resides , he is a poor farmer , and
certainly in _noeel of much artificial " protection , " who cannot carry his thoughts forward a few months in _iielvunco of the : current . season , anel determine his future operations in his various _fielels . These shemld bo as regularly entered in his mind as hi : woulel enter in his diary h note that a bill of exchange at three months ' elate , given or received on tho first eif June , would fall due on eir about the ; first of September ; and the funnur , deficient in this small amount of foresi ght , had _letter turn his attention to Home : either pursuit , in which somebody else may think for him I
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 7, 1852, page 17, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_07081852/page/17/
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