228 



Journal of AgriciiUare. yict( 



110 April. 1919. 



Flax Mills. 



Two flax sciitcliing- mills (those of Messrs. Wolfl:" Bros., of Droiihi. 

 and F. C. Jencke, of Longwarry South) have been working for many 

 years past, treating the material grown in these districts. During the 

 past season Messrs. Wolft' Bros, have found it necessary to increase 

 the capacity of their plant considerably, and two co-operative mill> 

 have been started — one at Buln Buln and the other at Dalmore, each 

 to treat the flax grown in their vicinity. 



Processing Flax. 



The first process to which flax is submitted is that of "threshing'' 

 or " boll crushing " ; this is accomplished by the aid of a flax thresher as 

 shown in the illustration, the operator standing opposite the end of 

 the shafting and holding the sheaf by the butt, with the head spread out 

 fan-like, allows it to pass between the revolving rollers, thus crushing 

 the bolls and liberating the seed, which is then conveyed by an endless 

 belt in a chute to the winnower and cleaned. 



"Picking up" and stacking retted straw at Messrs. Wolri Bros. 



Retting, 



Retting is done in one of tAvo ways, known respectively as water 

 retting and dew retting. 



In Belgium, where the highest grade of fibre is produced, the flax 

 is retted by placing it in crates and steeping for a given period in 

 the river Lys, a slow-flowing stream, wdiose waters are peculiarly suitable 

 for the purpose. 



In Ireland and other ^places the flax is placed on end in pits of 

 4 or 5 feet in depth, and varying in length and width to suit require- 

 ments, then weighted down to prevent floating, and covered with water 

 until sufficiently retted. 



The method practised in this State is "dew retting ";_ this is accom- 

 plished by spreading the threshed straw in a thin layer in long rows a 



