132 LINE.^ 



manufacturing capital and industry, and agricultural skill, have long been 

 brought into action in this way, thus affording a large means of employment 

 to the poor, since women, and even children, may work in the Flax-grounds. 

 Some agriculturists regret that Flax is not more generally planted through- 

 out the United Kingdom, as many parts arc admirably adapted to its culture ; 

 and with the exception of the Lake district, the mountainous parts of Wales, 

 Dartmoor, and a few places in Ireland and the borders of Scotland, the 

 climate is well suited for the growth of this plant. Its cultivation differs 

 very widely from that of any other crop, quality rather than weight being 

 the desired object. Large supplies of Flax have hitherto been derived from 

 France and Egypt, but most especially from Russia, Holland, and Belgium. 

 The greatest attention is paid to Flax at Courtrai, and its produce is used 

 for making the finest lace and cambric, the Russian Flax being mostly 

 employed in manufacturing canvas and stout cloths. 



Our wild perennial Flax affords almost as good a iiljre as that which is 

 more frequently cultivated. The seeds of both also contain a large quantity 

 of oil, from which is expressed the linseed oil of commerce, and the refuse 

 forms the substance called oil-cake, which is used as food for cattle. From 

 the strong fibres of the Flax yarn is spun, and to them we owe our coarsest 

 and our finest linen, from the sheet and tablecloth to the cambric handker- 

 chief, and the lint used by the surgeon. Even when these have served their 

 household purposes, the fragments have other uses, and we may bid them 

 go down — 



" Into the pa})Gr-null, and from its jaws 



Stainless and smooth emerge. Happy shall be 



Its renovation, if on its fair page 



Wisdom and truth their hallow'd lineaments 



Trace for posterity. So shall its end 



Be better than its birth." 



Both the Perennial and the Common Flax are often planted as border 

 flowers in gardens, and many beautiful species are introduced hither from 

 other countries. The lovely Golden Flax (Linum trlgi/mim), which has 

 blossomed in a stove in this country, has a yellow flower as large as that of 

 the Eschscholtzia, and was seen by Captain Hardwicke on the sides of the 

 mountains of India, flowering in great profusion, in December. Its pro- 

 vincial name is G^d ashorifee, "flower of the gold coin." 



* * Leaves opposite. 

 4. Cathartic Flax {L. cathdrticum). — Leaves oblong, broader at the 

 base ; sepals pointed. Plant annual. This pretty little Flax is very 

 different from the other species in regard to size, but the little vase-like 

 blossom is formed like theirs. It is of pure white, and so small, that an 

 emmet would hardly find shelter within its cup. The Avhole plant has the 

 slender elegance of the Flax tribe. It flowers from June to August, droop- 

 ing gracefully before expansion. This is a very common species on meadows, 

 chalky hills, and cliffs, where it grows beside the eyebright, the rock-rose, 

 and wild thyme, acquiring from its love of hill-sides the country name of 

 Mill Mountain. It has a long-established reputation in villages as a cure for 

 rheumatism. It rarely grows to the height of six inches, and is as common 

 on the chalky soils of France as on our own. 



