172 Cultivation of Flax in Belgium. 



a part of Brabant and Hainault, from 75,000 to 100,000 acres of 

 excellent land. This has to be carefully tilled and manured in 

 order to produce 20,000 tons of what is called " lin teille " (peeled 

 flax), representing in value at least 1,440,000/. As a raw farm- 

 produce it yields 120,000 tons of green flax. 



The number of labourers who find employment in the pro- 

 ducing, steeping, scutching, cleaning, and exporting of flax, 

 cannot be ascertained. 



On an average, the exports amount to 18,000 tons of vegetable 

 fibre. In 1860 the value was estimated at 880,000/., now much 

 exceeded, owing to the cotton crisis. 



In Flanders there were lately 220,551 female hand-spinners, 

 57,148 weavers, and 60,000 souls employed in cleaning, pre- 

 paring, bleaching yarns, &c. 



In 1846, 74,695 acres of flax were grown in Belgium ; in 1856, 

 82,090 acres ; showing an increase of 7393 acres. 



In 1846, the quantity of flax produced amounted to 17,405 

 tons, making an average of about 37 stone per acre. 



The entire extent of land under cultivation in this country 

 amounts to 4,576,290 acres ; and since of these 82,090 are given 

 up to flax, this crop constitutes ^jifijth upon the whole. 



The rise in the price of cotton, occasioned by the American 

 war, has led to an increase in the cultivation of flax, reckoned at 

 22,000 to 25,000 acres. 



There are two systems of steeping generally followed in 

 Begium — one, " rural steeping," in the open air ; and the other, 

 in covered barns, called " American factory." 



The rural system is subdivided into steeping by dew and 

 steeping in rivers. 



The first named, principally practised in the provinces ol 

 Hainault and Namur, and the cantons of Grammont and Ninove, 

 consists in spreading the flax over a field of grass or clover late 

 in the autumn, or in the months of January and February. The 

 winter steeping gives the best and whitest flax. 



In France, before spreading, it is customary to wet it with a 

 solution of alkali ; and in Holland with sea-water, to prevent its 

 being stained. This process of steeping occupies about a month. 

 The expense of this process is on an average 195. per acre. This 

 system produces a grey or bluish fibre, and is only resorted to in 

 places where water is scarce. 



Steeping in Stagnant Pools. — The water should be as clear as 

 possible, and devoid of iron or chalk, which affect the quality and 

 colour of the flax. 



In the province of Waes, two sorts of " routoirs " (steeping- 

 pools) are employed — the " routoir bleu argentin," which owes 

 its colour to the natural sediment of the soil, and the " routoir 



