THE FLAX PLANT. 283 
Mr. Schenck, and his successors, Messrs. Bernard and Koch, that the credit 
of organizing establishments for working the process is to be ascribed. 
The advantages which the new system presented were most important :— 
Ist. By leading to the establishment of factories for the steeping of flax, 
and the purchase of the crop from the farmer, who would thus be relieved 
from the trouble of its preparation, it rendered it possible to extend the cul- 
tivation of the crop beyond the bounds of the ordinary flax-growing districts. 
2nd, It introduced greater certainty and ceconomy into the preparation of 
the fibre. 
3rd. It prevented the destruction of the valuable seed, and also increased 
the per-centage of fibre. With these advantages, as might be expected, the 
new system made rapid progress, and establishments were erected, not merely 
in Ireland, but in England and Scotland, and the attention of several Con- 
tinental countries was also at once directed to it. 
To enable you completely to understand the system of management pur- 
sued at these establishments, one of which those interested in the subject 
will have an opportunity of inspecting in the neighbourhood of Belfast, 
I shall continue the description of the treatment of the experimental crop, of 
which I have already given a portion of the history. When the crop had 
been completely air-dried, by exposure in the field, so as to yield, as al- 
ready stated, in the straw, when dried at 212°, only 12 per cent. of water, 
it was removed to the steeping-works at Cregagh. It was there placed in 
stacks, and after some time prepared for steeping. The first operation for 
this purpose is the removal of the valuable bolls or capsules. This, in these 
_ establishments, where the cost of labour is carefully considered, is usually most 
expeditiously and perfectly effected by means of a machine composed of two 
massive cast-iron rollers, to which motion is communicated by a belt from 
the steam-engine. Between these the flax is passed and the capsules bruised, 
so that the seed can be readily shaken out. Having been deprived of its 
bolls by this machine, it was found that the 7770 lbs. of flax plants were 
reduced to 52 ewt., or 5824 lbs. 
Of the portions of the plant removed by the seeding machine, 910 lbs. con- 
sisted of clean seed, 1036 lbs. of husks, leaves, and sand. The vats to which 
the flax is now removed are formed of wood, strongly bound together by 
hoops, the oval shape being preferred. They are furnished with false bottoms, 
pierced with holes beneath, through which, by means of a coil of pipe, as re- 
presented in the drawing, steam is conveyed. The flax having been placed in 
the vats, with the bundles resting on the butt or root ends, and in single layers, 
as in the ordinary steeping-pools, a wooden frame is fixed above them, so as 
to prevent their rising out of the water during the fermentation. The vats 
are now filled with water, so as completely to cover the flax, and the steam- 
cock opened so as gradually to raise the temperature to 90° F. The 
overseers are furnished with thermometers, and instructed carefully to main- 
tain the temperature at that point day and night. Reckoning from the time 
at which the steam is admitted to the vats, the duration of the steeping 
averages about sixty-six hours. When the object is to obtain a very fine 
fibre, the retting is continued for a longer period. The method of ascer- 
taining the proper period for the removal of the flax from the water is the 
same as has already been described as relied on by the common steeper. 
The loss experienced by the seeded flax in steeping was 13 cwt. 
Drying.—When the steeping is completed, the flax is carried from the vats 
to an adjoining apartment of the factory, and placed in layers upon tables, 
and fixed by women in the drying holders. These consist of two wooden rods, 
