FIBRE CROPS 



973 



753 - Chemical Determination of the Fibre Yield of Flax for the Purpose of Studying 

 th3 Iiifiuenee of Different Cultivation Factors on such Yield. — i^ixnik, ja., in 

 CeahCh-oe Xoifiucmso u Jlibcosodcineo (AgriciUture and S\-lviculture), pp. 224-246. 

 Petrograd, February 191 6. 



The writer, after reviewing the different methods of steeping flax, de- 

 scribes the chemical methcd devised by him in the laboratory of technolog- 

 ical chemistry for textiles in the Technological Institute of Petrograd. He 

 considers it preferable to all others, as it enables the investigation of the yield 

 of fibre to be conducted under perfectl}'- equal conditions dependent only 

 on the will of the investigator. In other words this method affords the 

 possibility of obtaining comparative data for studying the influence of the 

 dift'erent factors, for instance, manuring, on the fibre yield. 



The methcd consists in treating the flax stalks with solutions of sulphu- 

 ric acid and alkalies in an apparatus specially designed for experiments in 

 the treatment of textile materials with chemical reagents. This treatment 

 is carried out in a special boiler fitted with a feed heater and a centrifugal 

 pump ensuring continuous circulation of the liquid. After careful washing 

 in water, the wet stalks are put through the press and afterwards dried in 

 a current of air heated to a temperature not exceeding 40° C. ; they are kept 

 for three days in this environment with constant humidity and temperature 

 after which the}'- are broken and combed. The flax stalks were chosen in 

 three different places and three different groups of them were formed. The 

 results of the analysis, with reference to the percentages of weight lost by 

 the stalks after the chemical treatmentr and the percentage of fibre yield, 

 are as follows : 



On comparing the data in respect of loss of weight of the stalks with 

 those of the average fibre yield, and allowing for the quality of the soil, 

 which exerts great influence on the chemical composition of the flax stalks, 

 the necessary guidance for selection of this plant may be obtained. The 

 experiments carried out, however, are in the author's view only first trials, 



