128 On the Culture^ tifc. of Flax^ April 



It will be worth attending to, in the pulling, to take 

 all the ripclt and flrongeft grown flax firfl ; and, leav- 

 ing it in fmall handt'uls acrols each other, but with the 

 ends containing the feed towards the fouth, to proceed 

 to pull that of an inferior growth. By this means, the 

 crop receives a forting, in the dxii iniVance, which will 

 be conducive to the perfed:ion of the manufadture in 

 every futur^- part of the procefs. The weeds mult alfo 

 be carefully taken out of the handfuis, and the dirt fhaken 

 from the roots. 



Immediately after pulling, the flax may be fleeped, 

 (unlcfs the feed is to be preferved ; in which cafe, it is to 

 be rippled, or dragged through a fort of iron comb, to 

 take off the feed pods) ; and the quality of the water 

 is fo far ellential to the perfetlion of the manufacture, 

 as to delerve particular attention. 



Turf bog water, which is not muddy, is found to an- 

 fvver very well for this purpofe ; but foul ftagnate water 

 gives a ftaiu to the flax which can never be bleached 

 out. Too pure a fpring, or fliarp running water, lime- 

 ftone waters, or thofe impregnated with a mineral acid 

 (which is eafily known, by their turning black with a mix- 

 ture of galls), are equally injurious. The beft water is 

 that of a refervoir dug in clay, or the fides of which are 

 lined v/ith clay. 



Such a refervoir, 4 feet deep, which it (hould not ex- 

 ceed, 6 broad, and 40 feet long, will contain the produce 

 of an Englilh acre. The water Ihould Hand in this re- 

 fervoir about a fortnight before the flax is put in, which 

 muft be evenly ilored, in fheaves loofcly tied, that the 

 band may not prevent the eftecls of the water on that 

 part. 



Tlie root ends fliould Hand higheft, and the whole 

 muft be perfectly immerfed, and kept down by bundles 

 of draw, or hurdles, as all that is above water will 

 be fcained. The time it is to lye in the fteep, depends 

 on the foft quality of the water, and the ftate of the 

 weather. In good water, and warm weather, four days 

 produce the effecl:, which, in other circumftanccs, does 

 riot happen under twenty. But it is fafeft to examine 

 the flax on the fourth day. After lleeping, it fliould be 

 fpread, even and thin, on fine grafs ground. For this 

 purpofe, (ifiergrnfs is much recommended \ but, if the 



grais 



