LINAGES 473 



Types and Varieties.— There are large-seeded and small- 

 seeded varieties. The large-seeded types are sometimes 

 known as Sicilian flax, and are grown almost entirely for 

 their seed, rather than fiber; there are both blue- and white- 

 flowered sorts. The small-seeded types are grown both for 

 fiber and seed; there are both blue- and white-flowered 

 varieties. The fiber flaxes have more slender stems, fewer 

 basal branches, and a more compact panicle than the seed 

 flaxes. 



Uses.^ — Linseed Oil. — The manufacture of linseed oil is 

 carried on in manufacturing plants having investments of 

 millions of dollars. The seeds are crushed, heated to about 

 i65°F., placed in tanks or cylinders, and while hot, treated 

 with naphtha to extract the oil. From 30 to 39 per cent, 

 of the seed is oil. Linseed oil is used in the manufacture of 

 paints, patent leather and varnishes. Linoleum is a prepara- 

 tion of linseed oil which is hardened by treating with sulphur 

 chloride or by exposure to heated air. It is sometimes used 

 as a substitute for india-rubber. Oil cloth and other sorts 

 of floor cloth, are made by mixing ground cork with the 

 hardened linseed oil (linoleum), and pressing upon canvas. 



Oil Cake and Oil Meal. — The residue from the crushed flax 

 seeds is known as oil cake. It is sold either as oil cake or 

 ground into a meal, and used as a stock food. Belgium and 

 Holland are our chief customers for linseed-oil cake. 



Flax Fiber. — ^Linen is made from flax fiber. Our finest 

 linens are from foreign grown flax, the best of which is grown 

 in Belgium in a region through which flows the River Lip. 

 The creamy Flemish flax from which the finest linen fabrics 

 are made is grown m this section. Flax fiber is also utilized 

 for making thread, carpet yarns, fishing lines, seine twines, 

 etc. It is also employed to some extent for upholstering, 

 for insulating cold-storage plants, refrigerator cars and ice 



