ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY. 155 
tons of stem. ‘The expense of working each ton obtained by this method is only five pounds. 
The glutinous matter may be removed by soap and water only, which will bring the flax to such 
perfect whiteness, that no further bleaching is necessary, even after the linen is woven, and the 
™! s s> 
method of separating the fibres by steeping the plant for several days in water certainly impairs 
their strength and durability, an effect which the application of a weak alkaline solution does 
not, it would appear, produce, while it, through a chemical action, effectually removes the vege- 
table extractive and other matters with which they are combined in the plant, and so rapidly, as 
not to allow time for the partial decomposition of the fibres which results from the protracted 
immersion required for their separation, when that is accomplished by the simple process of 
ter. 
I shall conclude this too brief notice of an important subject, by another extract from 
Loudon’s Encyclopedia of Agriculture, detailing a method of reparing flax to resemble Cotton 
in whiteness and softness, the principle of which may perhaps be found applicable to some one 
of the flax-like products of India. 
“ A method of preparing flax in such a manner as to resemble cotton in whiteness and 
softness, as well as in coherence, is givenin The Swedish Transactions for the year 1747. Fo 
Bengal, affords by compression a valuable drying oil, much used by painters. The remain- 
