FLAX. 297 



thickness, and covered closely with sods, that it may be kept 

 down under the water, away from the air and light, yet without 

 sinking to the bottom. In Belgium, crates are used, in which 

 the flax is packed away, in bundles of about twelve pounds 

 weight each, and these are sunk, and kept down by weights, in 

 the water, with stones underneath, to prevent their resting upon 

 the bottom. It is not objected that a stream of water should 

 pass over the pond ; but this, though sometimes recommended, is 

 incompatible with saving the liquor of the sleep for manure, for 

 which purpose, as I have seen, it is eminently valuable. 



From eight to twelve days is considered a sufficient length of 

 time for the steeping of the plant ; though one Irish cultivator 

 states, that where, by accident, some of his flax was left in the 

 water for eighteen days, it was much superior to that which re 

 mained only thirteen days. The test given to determine its 

 fitness to be taken out of the water is as follows : &quot; Try some 

 stalks of average thickness, by breaking the woody part, in two 

 places, about six inches apart, at the middle of the stalk ; catch 

 the broken bit of wood j and if it will pull freely out downwards 

 for that length, without breaking or tearing the fibre, and with 

 none of the fibre adhering to it, it is ready to be taken out. 

 Make this trial over, six hours after fermentation subsides; 

 for sometimes the change is rapid.&quot; The flax is then to be 

 removed from the pool with great care ; and after being set up on 

 end. to drain, for a few hours, by placing the bundles close to 

 each other, it is then to be spread out upon a grass field, not 

 upon the field on which it grew, to complete the process. Short 

 pasture ground is best for this purpose ; and it must be spread 

 thinly, so that one stalk may not overlay another, and as evenly 

 as can be done. It is to be turned two or three times, while on 

 the ground, that it may not acquire different shades of color by 

 the action of the sun. 



When the wood breaks easily, and separates from the fibre, it 

 is then ready to be taken up. This may be determined by the 

 hand, or by trying some in a machine. It is important, in taking 

 up, to keep the ends even. It is to be tied up in small bundles, 

 and put away in small stacks, loosely built up, or under cover in 

 a barn or shed, ready for being broken and scutched. Some per 

 sons attempt to dry their flax by fire ; but such a method is 



