The Hillsborough Recorder

Rural Economy.
"And such rich soil,
Exuberant, nature's better blessings pour
O'er every land."
From the New-York Daily Advertiser.
DEY'S FLAX DRESSING MACHINE.
We are gratified that the culture of flax is becoming an object of interest among the agriculturists in our country, particularly in the eastern states. The importance of the article for domestic consumption, and the immense sums annually sent out of the country for the various linen manufactures, both go to show the necessity of much greater attention to the subject than it has heretofore gained among our farmers.
Although large quantities of Flax are always raised in our country, we still import a vast proportion of the linens that are used—but it is believed, that if we paid suitable attention to the culture, and afterwards to the preparation, of the flax necessary even for the finest manufactures, we might, at no distant period, work up the raw material to great profit, and retain in the country a large proportion of the money that is now sent abroad for foreign linen manufactures.
One great difficulty in the way of our countrymen in the use of flax for fine fabrics, has been, the want of an efficient mode of preparing it for that purpose. The practice of rotting flax in water or dew, is necessarily attended with much hazard and labour; and the beauty of it is always impaired by that mode of preparation. We are much gratified at being able to state, that a machine has been invented in this city, which, as far as we are able to judge from our own observation, and the opinions of a number of highly respectable gentlemen, will fully remove the difficulties that have hitherto existed with regard to it. and answer all the purposes that the inventor had in view, or the farmer can desire.
The inventor of this machine is Anthony Dey, Esq. assisted in his operation by Mr. James McDonald, both of this city—Mr. Dey raised the past season 60 acres of Flax on reclaimed salt-marsh land in New-Jersey. As it would be impossible, without incurring great expense, to procure this large quantity of Flax dressed in the usual manner, and not being able to obtain the machines in use in Great-Britain, he undertook to form one for his own use, and we think he has succeeded in an uncommon degree.
This machine is intended to be moved by animal or water power—it dresses Flax and hemp in an unrotted state, and of course saves all the expense and evils of rotting—and it is supposed, when moved by a power equal to that of a yoke of oxen, will dress a ton of Flax in a day. Its operations are such that it will carry through the machine three lengths of Flax in a minute; and its performance is so perfect, that the Flax is completely broke and dressed. After having passed through the machine, it is to be boiled in a manner perfectly within the power of every farmer; and when boiled and finished, it is left in the finest order.
We have a sample at this office, which in point of complexion, fineness and softness of fibre, is very little inferior to fine floss silk. It is certainly very far superior in every respect to any Flax that we have ever seen dressed in our country; and as far as we may be allowed to judge, would be fit to be worked into the finest fabrics of which Flax is susceptible The whole expense of dressing flax in this machine, including that of boiling also. it is supposed by the inventors will not exceed six cents per pound. If right in their estimate of the amount of the labour it will perform, it is very apparent that one machine will be sufficient to dress all the Flax raised in a town.
By dressing Flax in an unrotted state there is no doubt that much is saved in quantity, as well as quality: as rotting in either mode is essentially injurious to its appearance. Unrotted flax is also said to be much stronger and more substantial than that which is rotted
We consider this a most fortunate and useful discovery—one that will prove highly beneficial to the agricultural interests of our country. Whitney's cotton machine was the great cause of the introduction into the southern states of the culture of cotton: and the result of that single invention has been the source of untold millions of profit to the planters. We hope Dey's Flax dressing machine may prove the source of much wealth to the northern farmers, by turning-directing their attention to this most profitable and useful commodity, and inducing them to raise a hundred fold of their former products.