XIX.—THE INJURIOUS INFLUENCE ON PISCICULTURE OF THE 
RETTING* WATER OF FLAX AND HEMP.t 
By E. RetcuHarprt. 
The question of the injurious character of the refuse water from the 
retting of flax is still an open one, inasmuch as opinions differ widely. 
lax and hemp retting aims at a partial decomposition of the vegetable 
substances, during which process especially the outer parts of the plant 
(the bark or rind) soon become brittle, whilst the inner (glutinous or eas- 
ily solvable) vegetable substances begin to ferment, whereby decompo- 
sition is furthered, but which, however, must not extend to the firm 
tissue of the plant. This tissue offers stronger resistance to the process 
of decomposition; but the action of the so-called retting process must 
be interrupted, as soon as repeated tests show thatthe outer (brittle) parts 
can be removed by simple rubbing, and that there is danger of the 
inner (firm) tissue being torn asunder. To continue the retting process 
any longer would injure the fibers of the tissue by likewise rendering 
these brittle and tender, and would therefore frustrate the object in view. 
Retting is carried on differently in different parts of the country, either 
by the dry or by the moist method. Ifthe dry methodis employed, the plants, 
after having been pulled, are in the beginning of autumn spread over 
the empty fields and exposed to the alternating atmospheric influences 
of moisture and heat, to the dew of the night and the glaring rays of 
the sun by day, these natural influences being artificially assisted by 
occasionally sprinkling the plants with water. Whatever substances 
are dissolved and withdrawn from the plants assimilate with the soil 
on which they lie, and the whole process may be termed decay. 
In the moist method of retting, the plants are soaked in water which 
is stagnant, or which is agitated as little as possible. Stones are placed 
on the bundles of flax or hemp, in order to keep them under water, and 
the process of putrefaction very soon commences, and is indicated by the 
solution of various vegetable substances, which imparts a dark color to 
* [The literal meaning of the German verb ‘‘rdsten,” ‘‘ to ret,” is retained in the trans- 
lation. The word isexclusively applied to the process of heating and fermentation pro- 
duced in flax and hemp by laying these plants, after being cut, either on the fields, 
exposed to the dew and the sun, or in water.—EDITOR. ] 
t Mittheiluagen zur Gesundheitspflege. Von E. Reichardt in Jena, Schddliche Wirkung 
des Ristwassers von Flachs und Hanf fiir die Fischzucht. Archiv der Pharmacie, vol. 219, 
part 1, Halle, 1881.—Translated by HERMAN JACOBSON. 
Age 545 
S. Mis. 29-——35 
