154 ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY. 
Sepals 4 5, persistent, estivation imbricated. Petals 4-5, hypogynous unguiculate, cada- 
cous, twisted in wstivation. Stamens equal in number to the petals and alternate with them, 
united at the base to a hypogynous ring or torus, from which proceed little teeth opposite the 
petals, indicating abortive stamens. Anthers ovate, erect, introrse, Ovary with about as many 
cells as sepals, seldom fewer, styles as many as the cells. Stigmas capitate, capsule, generally 
pointed with the hardened base of the style, several celled, each cell partially divided into two 
by an imperfect spurious dissepiment, and opening by two valves at the apex. Seeds single in 
each cell, compressed, inverted, albumen usually present. Embryo straight, fleshy, with the 
radicle pointing to the hilum. Cotyledons flat. 
Arrinitizs. These are still sub-judice, ene set of Botanists viewing the order as more 
nearly allied to Caryophyllaceae and Malvaceae, while another considers it as little else than a 
section of Geraniaceae. The objection to this last arrangement, advanced by Dr. Lindley, the 
want namely of the gynobase, seems to me a very strong one, and in the absence of that I can- 
not see any other very evident relationship, by which the order approaches nearer the one set of 
orders than the other, and look upon DeCandolle’s opinion, that it is an order intermediate 
between and having affinities with Caryophyllaceae, Malvaceae, and Geraniaceae, bet ween the 
two first of which he places it, as well founded. 
Dr. Lindley places Lineae in his Calycose group between EHlatineae and Hugoneaceae, 
to both of which they are obviously allied. 
Geocrapuicat Distripution. Species of the genus Linum are found in all the four 
quarters of the globe, but most abundant in Europe and the northern parts of Africa. Three 
are met with in the Peninsula of India, but perhaps one of these, LZ. usitatissimum, introduced, 
though that is uncertain now. Mr. Royle mentions some others which he found at the foot of 
the Himalayas, and at moderate elevations on them. The whole number enumerated by 
DeCandolle in his Prodromus is 54, Don in his edition has extended them to 77, but whether 
these are all good species may be doubted. 
Prorertics ano Uses. Flax the produce of the bark of the Linum usitatissimum, has 
f the method. 
eas Lees’ method of breaking flax and hemp, without dew-retting, was invented in 1810, 
and was the first step towards a great improvement, brought nearer perfection by the new 
_ patent machines of Messrs. Hill and Bund 
Hill and Bu 
part of the work being so light that it may be done by children and infirm persons, and such is 
the construction and simplicity of the machines, that no previous instruction or practice is re- 
quired, their introduction, therefore, into those asylums would be the means of effecting a con- 
siderable reduction of the poor’s rate. The woody part is removed by a very simple machine, 
‘The original length of the fibre, as well as its strength, remains unimpaired, and the difference — : 
