180 PROCESS OF GROWING AND PREPARING FLAX. 



The swingle-board is a board of hard wood — pear tree, apple 

 tree, beach — four feet high, fourteen to sixteen inches broad, and 

 one and a half inches thick. 



The incision is made about three feet above the block, according 

 to the size of the swingler, and is two and one-fourth to two and 

 one-half inches wide, and nine inches long. Below the incision, 

 the board is rounded off a little. In front the board is sharp, in 

 order that the flax may be brought into it without trouble. The 

 rounding (breast) is made for the purpose of bringing the flax with 

 the left hand more easily and better under the stroke of the swin- 

 gle-statf. The swingle-board is fastened upright in a block, two 

 to three inches thick, in such a position as to lean, from the edge 

 of the incision, one and a half inches off from the swingler, and in- 

 cline one and a half inches to the left side, which inclination is still 

 to be increased, if the swingler cuts off the head of the flax. On 

 either side before the foot, two poles are driven into the ground, 

 projecting one and a half feet, and connected by a strong leather 

 strap, which not only protects the laborer from injuries by the 

 swingle-staff, but also facilitates the work, as the staff in falling 

 on the tightly stretched strap will rebound forcibly. 



