284 REPORT—1852. 
5} feet long, between which a thin layer of flax is secured, by passing metal 
rings over the ends of the holders, fifty holders being employed for about 
1 ewt. of flax. Thus secured, the holders are carried to open drying sheds, 
and suspended from cross-beams. In three days, in favourable weather, the 
drying is completed; but in damp weather it is placed in a hot chamber, to 
heat which the waste steam of the steam-engine is employed. 
Breaking and Scutching.—As in the patent steeping establishments a 
sufficient number of skilled workmen could not be at all times obtained, a 
new impulse was given to the invention of machines capable of performing 
the work of the hand-scutcher, and several ingenious and beautiful mecha- 
nical arrangements have been proposed, both for breaking and scutching the 
flax. In this department Belfast has produced some excellent examples, and 
the machines of Messrs. M’Adam, Brothers and Co., and of Mr. Richard 
Robinson, are to be found in almost every flax-growing district both in this 
country and in England. From the 52 ewt. of seeded straw, the produce of 
the experimental crop, there remained 6 cwt. 1 qr. 2 lbs. of marketable 
fibre. 
After the introduction of the new system, and that several establishments 
were occupied in the preparation of fibre, objections were made to the 
quality of the material, and considerable doubts were expressed, both with 
regard to the amount of produce obtained, and its adaptation for its various 
uses. These objections, however, were at the time removed by experiments 
instituted by experienced manufacturers, both in this country and at the admi- 
rably-conducted works of the Messrs. Marshall in Yorkshire. In Messrs. 
Marshall’s experiments, samples of the products of which are on the table, 
flax-straw grown in Holland was the material employed; the steeping of a 
portion was conducted at two establishments, on Schenck’s system, while 
another portion from the same lot was steeped in Holland in the ordinary 
way. The results were regarded as in all respects confirmatory of the supe- 
riority of the patent process; and a Committee of the Royal Flax Society 
also reported, that all objections with respect to any injurious influence of the 
accelerate fermentation on the strength and bleaching qualities of the fibre 
had been shown to be groundless, and that the yield of the fibre was greater 
than when “the old, slovenly, and uncertain process of watering” was prac- 
tised. 
The process of fermentation, as conducted in the patent establishments, so 
far as my investigatious have extended, does not appear in any respect to 
present phzenomena different from what I have observed in the ordinary 
steeping-pools of the country, when only rippled flax is employed. Usually, 
in eight or ten hours after the flax had been placed in the vats, a copious 
extrication of gas is observed, and sometimes the vat becomes covered with a 
head of froth, like the vat of the brewer; and at this period an odour is 
evolved in the establishment closely resembling that of the brewery. The 
gas evolved at this period is chiefly carbonic acid. The liquid at the same 
time exhibits a slight acid reaction. As the process continues the tem- 
perature rises, so that an additional admission of steam is seldom required to 
maintain the liquid at from 85 to 90 degrees. ‘Towards the conclusion of 
the operation, usually in about 60 hours, the escape of gas becomes less abun- 
dant, and a covering of slimy matter collects on the surface of the liquid. 
The steep-water at this period has a light brown colour, is transparent, 
and closely resembling bitter ale. It is strongly acid to litmus, but the 
original blue colour of the test-paper is restored on drying. 
Its taste at first is rather agreeably acid, but followed by the peculiar 

