Cultivation of Flax in Belgium. 179 



in length, and 4 feet 7 inches in depth, to contain 823 gallons of 

 liquid. 



The chemical substances employed in this process (which ai-e 

 exclusively alkaline) cost in Belgium 145. ; in England, 11^. 6c?., 

 for the above-mentioned (quantity of flax. 



Third operation, Drying. — A " s(3choir," or apparatus for 

 drying the fibre produced by 1 ton of green flax, Avhich, when 

 washed and crushed, will be reduced to 6|^ cwts. of flax, measuring 

 22 yards cube ; the flax should be hung upon wooden bars placed 

 one above the other at a distance 19 inches. The return of dried 

 flax is about 3J cwts. 



Recapitulation of process for dressing 1 ton of green flax : — 



Cwts. 



Prepared flax 3*5 



Shoves or c/iejiew^^es 12-8 



AVaste material 0*8 



Eesidne after washing (an excellent manure mixed with ) ..^ 

 1540 gallons of water) \ ^ 



20-0 

 Hands reciuired. 

 2 workmen. 

 13 boys for " crushing." 



2 men for making bundles. 



3 boys for making bimdles. 



4 Ijoys for cleaning. 



Washiwj. 



1 man. 



2 boys for washing. 

 2 boys for drying. 



5 boys for "kneading" the flax (rendering it supple). 

 1 master workman. 



Total .. 35 men. 



Eo:]}ense at Brussels. 



Fr. c. s. d. 



1 master 4 = 3 2^ 



5 workmen, 12 hours, at 13 centimes per hour 7 80 = 6 3 



29 boys at 4 centimes per hour (12 hours) .. 13 92 = 11 li 



25 72 ^ 20 7 



Chemicals 16 0=12 9 



Coals (100 lbs.) 5 20= 4 2 



46 92 = 37 6 



The average return being 175 kilogrammes of flax (3|- cwts.) 

 ready for weaving, the cost of preparation is of 26 or 27 cen- 

 times per kilogramme {)-\d. per lb. nearly). The expense of 

 machinery, &c., necessary for dressing from five to six tons of 

 flax per diem is 1512Z. 



Such being the opinions of very competent persons called 



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