120 FLOWERS OF THE CORNFIELDS 



the liin-wheel. Fields in Westmorland still go by the name of Liin- 

 holmes, Lindale, Lugnegnards. 



Lintlaw, Linthill, in Berwickshire, and Linthaugh, probably derive 

 their names from the cultivation of lint. Lint Bells, Lint-bows, mean 

 the flowers and seed pods of flax. 



Flax was worn as a talisman against witchcraft. One who spins 

 after the Twelfth Night is bewitched. The fairies' clothes are made of 

 fairy flax. On St. John's Eve men wearing wheat, women flax, meet 

 around an historic stone and place wreaths on it, and if they are fresh 

 for some time the lovers they represent will be united, but if they wither 

 love will die. The proverb, " Get thy spindle and thy distaff made, 

 and God will send the flax ", enjoins faith. If the sun shines on New 

 Year's Eve in Westphalia the flax will be straight. When Joseph and 

 Mary were fleeing into Egypt the flax bristled up. 



In Bohemia, if children dance in the flax they will grow up 

 beautiful. To spin on Saturday in Germany is bad luck. They 

 have this legend: 



Two old women, good friends, were the most industrious spinners in their village, 

 Saturday finding them engrossed in their work as on other days of the week. At length 

 one of them died, but on the Saturday evening following she appeared to the other, who 

 as usual was very busy at her wheel, and showing her burning hand, said: 



"See what I in hell have won, 

 Because on Saturday eve I spun ". 



In Thuringia, however, they consider flax a lucky plant When 

 a young woman gets married she places flax in her shoes as a charm 

 against poverty. It is supposed also to have health-giving properties. 

 In Germany when an infant seems weakly and thrives slowly it is 

 placed naked upon the turf on Midsummer Day, and flax seed is 

 sprinkled over it, the notion being that just as flax seed grows so 

 will the infant grow gradually stronger. If a person is dizzy in 

 Thuringia he is advised to run after sunset naked through a flax field 

 three times, and the flax will take upon itself the dizziness. 



Flax has been used since prehistoric times, and the inner fibrous 

 bark was used then as it is now. The fibres consist of bast, which is 

 very strong, and with cells 20-40 mm. long. The Egyptian mummy 

 clothes are made of flax. The tow was used by the ancients for wicks 

 for oil lamps, and linseed for oil. It is used in oil painting. 



Seed is sown broadcast in pulverized sandy loam in April. It is 

 kept well weeded. When the seed is ripe it is pulled up by the roots, 

 and capsules are removed by the combs, the stalks are tied in bundles, 



