106 iRambles wttb mature Stubents 



We all know the remedial effects of linseed-tea, 

 and the value of the ground meal which forms 

 soothing poultices to relieve inflammatory pain ; and 

 finally when the oil has been pressed out of the 

 seeds the mass of husk which remains is made into 

 cakes, which form an excellent and fattening food 

 for cattle. Surely we ought to look upon such a 

 plant as this with admiring gratitude as we 

 remember its many uses. 



Those who possess a garden or even a few pots 

 upon a window ledge can easily grow their own 

 flax plants by sowing a pinch of the seed in May. 



It only needs good soil and watering, in order 

 to produce an abundance of its delicate blue flowers, 

 and when they are over we can see for ourselves 

 the round seed capsules, like little balls, which are 

 alluded to in Exod. ix. 31 : 'The barley was in 

 the ear, and the flax was boiled,' that is, swollen. 1 



This leads us to reflect upon the great antiquity 

 of this plant, and its frequent mention in Scripture. 



It is believed that flax has been cultivated in 

 Egypt for five thousand years, and great quantities 

 of it must therefore have been grown, to supply 

 the immense demand for mummy cloth, as it was 

 invariably made of linen, either fine or coarse. 



From a reference in Ezek. xxvii. 7, we learn 

 that sails for ships were made of linen ; which again 

 shows that the fibre could be woven either into 

 the finest cambric or a cloth of the coarsest and 

 most durable nature. 



When the stems are mature they are dried and split, 

 then steeped in water, and afterwards hackled into 



1 This derivation is taken from Professor $kxa* Etymological English 



Dictionary. 



