230 INDUSTRIAL PLANTS 
aration requires more labor, it is more costly and hence 
more a fiber of luxury. The flax plant (Fig. 217) flourishes 
throughout the temperate zones, and was cultivated in the 
Old World even during prehistoric times. To-day the world’s 
supply of flax comes chiefly from northern Europe. 
The bast of a flax plant forms the main strengthening 
element of its stem, running near the surface where, plainly, 
the strain is greatest. These fibers consist of nearly solid 
cylinders of almost pure cellulose. The essentials of the 
process by which pure flax is obtained are, first rotting or 
“retting’’ the stems and then, after drying them, breaking 
the weakened parts into fragments, and finally beating and 
combing these away from the bast. After further combing 
to separate the longest and best fibers, and then bleaching, 
they are ready to be manufactured into the finest linen fab- 
rics as well as such strong materials as canvas and duck, and 
the foundation of carpets and oil-cloth. The strongest thread 
and twine, and the finest lace are also made from flax, while 
from linen rags are made the best papers for writing and 
artist’s use. From this paper, by treatment with sulphuric 
acid, a “vegetable parchment” is made which fully takes the 
place of the parchment formerly manufactured from the 
skin of sheep. 
Jute is obtained from two closely related species (Fig. 218). 
Though cultivated from very early times in India the fiber 
has assumed commercial importance only within the nine- 
teenth century. The bast is extracted from the stem in some- 
what the same way as flax. In luster and fineness it rivals 
flax, but as it contains less cellulose it is inferior in strength 
and enduring qualities. Its most important use is for coffee- 
sacks, cotton-bagging, burlap, webbing, and similar coarse 
fabrics. It is coming rapidly into use, however, for finer 
fabrics, imitating linen and silk, and as a substitute or adul- 
terant of hemp it is used extensively in cordage; but it is 
ill-suited for this purpose on account of its rapid deteriora- 
tion. 
Hemp (Fig. 171) is coarser than flax but longer and stronger. 
It is thus especially well adapted for twine, rope, and heavy 
eordage, and likewise for sail-cloth, bagging, and similar 
