THE TCHOU-MA, OR CHINESE FLAX. 241 



In the course of from 5 to 7 days they become perfectly white. 

 If the weather be cloudy or rainy the stems are placed under 

 cover in a current of air. If they are wetted by the rain they 

 immediately turn black. 



Another author says, after peeling' the fibres they are tied in 

 skeins, arranged in a circle, and steeped for a night in a pan of 

 water ; they are then spun on a wheel. This done, they are 

 again steeped in water containing the ashes of burnt mulberry 

 wood. 



Having taken them from the pans they are divided into 

 packets of 5 oz. weight each ; the packets are placed for a night 

 in a tub of a mixture consisting of a cup of pure water and an 

 equal quantity of powdered chalk to each packet. 



The next day the chalk is got rid of, and the fibres are boiled 

 in water containing straw ashes, by which process they become 

 white and supple. Being now dried in the sun they are again 

 boiled in pure water ; they are then stirred about in more water, 

 which finishes the cleansing process, and lastly they are dried 

 in the sun. 



This done, the fibres are joined end to end on the wheel so as 

 to make long threads, which form the warp and the woof, and 

 are matiufactured into stuff" in the usual way. 



Another author says, after having spun the fibres of tchou-ma, 

 they are boiled in lime water, and when cool, carefully washed 

 in pure water. Then by means of a bamboo sieve, placed on 

 the surface of the water, they are spread out in equal layers in 

 order that they may be as it were half wetted below, and lialf 

 dried above. As night approaches, they are taken out, strained 

 and dried : the same process is repeated the next and following 

 days, until the threads are perfectly white. They are then, but 

 not before, fit for being made up. 



According to another process, the tchou-ma is first soaked, 

 then spun and made up, instead of being soaked after the spin- 

 ning. 



Other persons again take the fresh fibres, expose them at night 

 to the dew, and in the day to the sun ; then spin and weave, 

 bleaching last of all. 



Others lastly, following those who employ the plant Ko, cut 

 the stems, soften the fibres in the steam of boiling water, then 

 weave, and do not bleach at all. Fibres thus prepared give a 

 material that is more supple and fibrous. 



Mode of Gathering the best Seeds of Tchou-ma. 



"When seeds of tchou-ma are wanted for the purpose of sowing, 

 those which are found on the main shoots are to be preferred. 



