176 Cultivation of Flax in Belgiiim. 



"1. On the nature and quality of the flax. 



"2. On the degree of perfection to which the steeping has 

 been brought. 



Comparative trials made in Belgium with large quantities 

 of flax prove that steeping in warm water gives a far more 

 regular result than steeping in rivers, and our experience of 

 M. Lefebure's system confirms us in the idea that its results are 

 far better than those obtained by any of the others. We can 

 affirm that the system of Lefdbure properly applied produces 

 the entire amount of filament contained in the stalk, according 

 to the highest calculation ; that this system is founded upon true 

 principles, and employs agents easily applied without endan- 

 gering the quality of the substance, or causing useless expen- 

 diture ; in its bearing upon the filament, it presents the advantage 

 of acting on the mass of fibre alone, of employing only the 

 liquid substance strictly useful, of considerably diminishing the 

 amount that requires drying, of acting with greater precision 

 and certainty than any other system, and finally of turning to 

 account a considerable portion of the waste matter." 



M. Alkan also states that the system Lefebure has the further 

 merit of superior economy, if it be taken into account that it 

 does away with the operation of " cremage " (washing), to get rid 

 of the gum, which costs 8t?. per cwt. of dressed fibre. As a 

 difference of opinion exists on this point, I will not follow him 

 through his calculations, but simply state that he estimates the 

 cost of transforming 1 cwt. of flax-stalks into filament, including 

 everything, crushing, stripping, placing in tubs, alkaline water, 

 heating, manual labour, drying, «Scc., at a maximum of 4 francs ; 

 and supposing a return of 15 per cent, in fibre, the preparation 

 of 1 cwt. of fibre costs 26 francs and &^ centimes. 



He puts the total cost of steeping by the old system at 2/. 25. 

 (42 francs 25 centimes) per cwt. He attaches, however, the 

 chief importance to the certainty of obtaining rapidly and regu- 

 larly thread and tissue of a quality and texture hitherto un- 

 equalled, of being able to separate and refine the fibre in a way 

 that so much facilitates all ulterior transformation, and further 

 to the avoiding of all risk of destruction to the crop, and all 

 irregularity in its quality, 



" In short, the plants prepared on the one hand by the ordi- 

 nary process of steeping, and on the other by the new system, 

 produce filaments of such different quality that the superiority of 

 the latter speaks for itself." 



I have also before me the Report of a Commission appointed 

 by the " Societe Centrale d'Agriculture de Belgique" to examine 

 M. Lefebure's system, with a view to the suppression of the 

 system of " rural steeping." 



