The present position of the great staple trade of the country demands the most serious consideration, as evidenced by the above figures and facts. The acreable produce of the flax crop has very much declined, and has nearly reached that point at which it will cease to remunerate the grower, at the price the manufacturer can afford to pay him. This, however, can be met by the laudable exertions of the Belfast Association to promote improved cultivation. But a much greater difficulty remains. An increased growth of 20,000 tons outside of Ulster is required; in other words, an increased area of 160,000 acres annually devoted to the crop in Leinster, Munster and Connaught. This would be only 4 per cent. of their total area under tillage, against 10 per cent. in Ulster, it is true; but these provinces grew only 2,000 tons (on 14,224 acres), in 1868; and it is far from likely that the farmers of the South and West, holding their land on an annual tenancy, determinable by a six months' notice to quit, will extensively enter on the cultivation of a crop involving a nine years'

rotation.1

Since the above was written, I have received the return of 1869, which shows an increase in the area of flax grown in Ireland of 22,732 acres, representing about 3,000 tons. Of this increase 3,910 acres are outside of Ulster, and 18,822 are within that province. Notwithstanding this, fully 160,000 acres more would be required, to be devoted annually to the crop in Leinster, Munster, and Connaught, as flax growing in Ulster is overdone.

Irrespective of other weighty considerations, to be treated of further on, we have here, in the interests of our great linen manufacture alone, an irresistible argument for the prompt and thorough settlement of the land question in Ireland. The staple manufacture of England likewise suffers just now from a scarcity of the raw material. But there is this differencethat cotton cannot be grown at home. The supply of flax, on the contrary, lies in our own hands. With suitable soil and climate, in connection with the existing machinery for promoting its extension and improved cultivation, there is no doubt that enough would be produced for the manufacturers' requirements, if the farmers outside of Ulster were secure in their tenure, and thus in a position to put all their labour and capital into the land.

CHAPTER XII.

THE COTTON MANUFACTURE IN IRELAND; ITS HISTORY, PRESENT POSITION, AND PROGRESS SINCE 1862-PARTICULARS OF COTTON FACTORIES IN ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, AND IRELAND RESPECTIVELY THE SEWED MUSLIN TRADE OF ULSTER-LACE WORK-HISTORY OF THE IRISHI POPLIN MANUFACTURE; ITS PRESENT POSITION; FOREIGN DEMAND-INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND ART MUCH WANTED IN IRELAND-PARTICULARS OF SILK FACTORIES IN ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, AND IRELAND RESPECTIVELY.

THE cotton manufacture was introduced into Ireland in 1777. Owing to its monopoly of the home trade it prospered, in some degree, until the year 1816, when the system of bounties and import duties, by which it was mainly supported, ceased. Its present state, as compared with the great cotton manufacture of England and Scotland, will be seen in the following return of cotton factories in the three countries, in the year 1868.1

Parliamentary Return, Factories, July 22, 1868, p. 27.

That Ireland is making some progress in the cotton manufacture is evidenced by the following comparison of the years 1862 and 1868:-1

The sewed muslin trade of Ulster deserves special notice. Its head-quarters are in Belfast, and until lately it gave employment to over 300,000 persons, chiefly females, in all parts of the province, and in some of the counties of Munster and Connaught. Patterns on muslin are given out by the Irish and Scotch manufacturers, or their agents, to the country districts to be worked, the annual value of the manufactured goods being estimated at 1,500,000l. Latterly, owing to a change of fashion, this trade has considerably diminished.

The females of Ireland have peculiar aptitude for this kind

1 Returns of 1862 and 1868.

of work, and also for lace. Beautiful specimens of both may be seen by the tourist in the several convent schools throughout the country. There is a considerable demand for the work in England, where the nuns contrive, through the kind cooperation of some benevolent ladies, to dispose of quantities, for the benefit of the children. In several schools as much as 1,000l., and in some 1,500l., are thus earned by the girls in the year.

The silk manufacture was introduced into Ireland, at the commencement of the last century, by the French Huguenots, who had left France in numbers on the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Its principal branch is tabinet, or Irish poplin, a mixture of silk and wool, a manufacture in which Ireland has distanced all competition. One hundred years ago, Dr. Campbell praised the superior perfection to which the Irish have brought poplins, some of which, called tabinets, have all the richness of silk.' In 1778 they are thus described by Arthur Young :

1

The tabinets and poplins of Ireland (a fabric partly of woollen, partly of silk), did that island possess a greater freedom in the woollen trade, would find their way to a successful market throughout all the south of Europe. A friend of mine travelled France and Spain, with a suit of that pleasing fabric among others, and it was more admired and envied than anything he carried with him. This is a manufacture of which we have not a vestige in England.2

There are two leading factories of poplins in Dublin. They do not spin their material; neither do they employ any power looms. The work, which requires very delicate manipulation, is all done by hand looms. These two factories use 330 hand looms, and have 500 persons employed. There are also three minor factories, more of a retail character, but producing excellent fabrics.

With regard to the general poplin trade, it is most gratifying to be able to state, that during the past few years it has

1 'Philosophical Survey,' p. 201. 2 Tour in Ireland, 1776-8.'

THE IRISH POPLIN MANUFACTURE.

47

largely increased. Formerly, there were constant exertions made to induce the Irish people to wear this fabric, as one of national manufacture. Of late, however, the promotion of the trade has been based on sounder principles, and manufacturers have directed their attention more to the introduction of poplins as an article of regular sale in the English, continental, and foreign markets. Consequently, instead of resting on the small and precarious trade which could be developed in this country, the manufacture of Irish poplins has now attained a large and, what there is good reason to hope, will prove to be a permanent sale in most parts of the world. They are very largely sold in the United States, and throughout the Continent. At present the Dublin manufacturers have their hands full with foreign orders, including some for two of the continental courts.

Dress poplins are now almost exclusively sold either perfectly plain, or in tartans, stripes, or very small simple figures. There are also manufactured curtain fabrics, of a rich description, many of them 63 inches wide. These are generally brought out with a pattern on them, and are capable of receiving the highest classes of art design; and it is through having adopted such classes of design that the Dublin manufacturers have succeeded in selling these materials extensively to the leading upholsterers throughout England, the Continent, and America.

In concluding my brief notice of this interesting manufacture, in which Ireland stands without a rival, I would direct attention to a great public want, to be supplied in connection with it and other branches of Irish industry; and I feel I can best do so in the words of a gentleman (a poplin manufacturer), to whom I am indebted, among others, for much valuable information on the subject:

We had great hopes that previous to this some steps would have been taken by the present Government to redeem the promise of their predecessors, to establish an Institute of Science and Art. We much