ABSTRACT
THEgreatstapleoftheLinenTradeisFlax,theclothmade fromthisfibrebeingaloneentitledtobecalledLinen.From variouscausesthecultivationofthisplanthasnotkeptpace withthedemandsoftheworldforLinen,andsubstituteshave beensoughtfortosupplythevoid.Theoldestoftheseis Hemp,andformanyfabricsitisperhapsthebestthathasyet beentried.Thecultureandnatureofthisvaluablefibrehave beenalreadytreatedofinaseparatechapter.NeitherFlaxnorits twinsisterHemphavehithertobeengrowninsufficientquantityforthewantsofthetrade,andpricesofbothhaveconsequentlycontinuedhigh.Indeedsolimitedhasbeenthesupply ofthesefibresthattheLinentrade,haditbeenconfinedto them,musthavebeencircumscribedwithinnarrowerdimen· sions,andtheDundeebranchofitcouldneverhaveattainedits presentcolossalproportions.
