AGRICULTURAL BOTANY. 



245 



depends upon the season and the intention of the grower. If fine fibre be the object, he pulls 

 the flax rather green, but if the quality of the seed be considered, a longer time is given 

 before pulling. The latter object is generally attained when two-thirds of the stalk have 

 turned yellow, and when the seeds have changed from their fluid state, for they ripen suffi- 

 ciently after the flax is pulled, if not separated from the stalk. Taking up the c*rop in a wet 

 state is avoided, if possible. 



The pulling is carefully done by small handfuls at a time, which are laid regularly across 

 each other to dry, and are afterwards collected in larger bundles, the root-end on the ground 

 and the seed-ends tied lightly together, as sheaves of grain in the harvest-field. The prac- 

 tice of cultivators differs very much as to the after processes. Some disregard the seed, and 

 commence steeping the flax at once ; some carry it as soon as it is dry under a shed, and take 

 off the capsules by a process called rippling ; others house the flax as soon as it is dry, allow- 

 ing the seed to remain on, and deferring the processes of rippling and steeping till the fol- 

 lowing season, 



The annexed engraving represents the appear- 

 ance of the ordinary flax fibre, as seen under the 

 microscope. 



The great obstacle to the growth of flax in England and in the United States is the want 

 of an intermediate interest to buy the straw from the grower, and to prepare the fibre for 

 the spinner. Conducted on the old system, it is only adapted to small occupations, like those 

 of Belgium and Ireland. New processes of preparing the fibre are, moreover, being intro- 

 duced, which cannot be carried on upon the farm, but require separate establishments, and 

 which appear likely to supersede the old method of steeping. 



Two years ago, the most promising of these new processes appeared to be that of Schenck, 

 which consisted in steeping the flax in hot water, and thus effected, in from seventy-two to 

 sixty-nine hours, what under the old system occupied from two to three weeks. In 1852, 

 twenty retteries on this system were established in Ireland, besides several in England. 



Since then, two other processes have been patented, which, as far as trials on a small 

 scale have gone, appear to be superior to Schenck's, both as regards the saving of time and 

 expense. One of these is by Watts. It consists in steaming the straw instead of steeping. 

 The other method is Buchanan's, who operates by means of repeated immersions (about ten) 

 in hot water, kept by a very ingenious contrivance from exceeding a certain temperature. 

 The process is conducted by means of cheap and simple machinery, by which labor is saved, 

 the risk of loss from carelessness avoided, and the time required for the preparation of the 

 fibre is reduced to twelve hours. The system is now being tested on a commercial scale in 

 Scotland. 



It has been well observed that the chief impediment in the growth of flax consists in the 

 question — "Who is to begin?" The farmer does not grow flax for the want of the rettery, 

 and the rettery is not established for want of the flax. Another difficulty arises out of the 

 continued improvements which are going on in the processes for preparing the fibre, and the 

 perplexity which this occasions among those who are disposed to embark in the undertaking 

 as to which they shall adopt. 



The manufacturers are the parties who should make the first move, by establishing ret- 

 teries, and offering a liberal price to the farmers for their straw. The districts best suited to 



