98 



LINE.^. 



F 



lemp seed 80, and poppy seed 150, the modius castrensis, equal to about 

 S8U cubic inches.' The propagation of flax in Northern Europe as of 



1 



S8U 



to 



(me 



so many other useful plants was promoted by Charlemag'ne.^ It seems 

 ■ \ave reached Sweden and Norway before the 12th century.^ 



Description— The capsule which is globose splits into 5 carpels, 

 each containing two seeds separated by a partition. The seeds are oi 

 liattened, elongated ovoid form with an acute edge, and a sl'S^b' 

 oblique point blunt at one end. They have a brown, glossy, polished 

 surface which under a lens is seen to be marked with extremely fine 

 pits. The hilura occupies a slight hollow in the edge just below tlie 

 apex. The testa which is not very hard encloses a thin layer ot 

 albumen surrounding a pair of large cotyledons having at their poiuted 

 extremity a straight embiyo. The seeds of different countries vary 

 from I to i of an inch in length, those produced in warm regions being 

 larger than those grown in cold. We find that 6 seeds of Sicilian 

 linseed, 13 of Black Sea and 17 of Archangel linseed weigh respectively 

 gni.in. 



When immersed in water, the seeds become surrounded by a turn, 

 slippery, colourless, mucous envelope, which quickly dissolves as a 

 neutral jelly, while the seed slightly swells and loses its polish. I'l'^ 

 seed when masticated has a mucilaginous oily taste. 



Microscopic Structure— On examining the testa under almond 

 oil or oil of turpentine, the outlines of the epidermal cells are not dis- 

 tinctly visible. But under dilute glycerin or in water the epidermic 

 quickly swells up to 3 or 4 times its original thickness ; on wanmn?' 

 the entire epidermis is resolved into mucilage, except a thin skeleton 

 of cell- walls, which withstands even the action of caustic lye. The loi- 

 mation of the mucilage may be conveniently studied by the use ot a 

 solution of ferrous sulphate, with which thin sections of the tes a 

 should be moistened. Other structural peculiarities may be seen i^ 

 they are imbued with concentrated sulphuric acid, w%ashed and tliei 

 moistened with a solution of iodine. The application of polarized iig" 

 is also useful. By the latter means crystalloid granules of albunu- 

 noid matter become visible if the sections are examined under o^. 

 The tissue of the albumen and the cotyledons abounds in drops 

 fatty oil. 



Chemical Composition— The constituent of chief importance ^ 

 the fixed oil which the seed contains to about ~\ of its weight. ^ 

 proportion obtained by pressure on a large scale' is 20 to 30 per ce ■ 

 varying with the quality of the seed. The oil when pi'^ssed ^^^^ 

 out heat and when fresh has but little colour, is wdthout ""P^^^^ • j 

 .taste, and does not solidify till cooled to - 20° C. The ^mmeic 

 oil however is dark yellow, and has a sharp repulsive taste < 

 odour. On exposure to the air, especially after having been m-^ 

 with oxide of lead, it quickly dries up to a transparent varnisn^^^^ 

 sistmg chielly of Livoxyii, O^'Tr^O". The crude oil increases m ^vei^, 



l,il^''inl'"°'''''' 'V"J'«-«J yullo)) = 277-27 Knlturpfnnz^'mmllhaiMlikre ■ ■ ■ 



Bell'"' 



cubic inches. 



flax 1 n ancient times, we may refer to Helm, Christiania, 1 873-1 S75. P- 332. 



