208 On Italian Hemp atid Flax, 



machine of Christien of Paris will do the same for that, 

 which is thin and short, but this single operation will 

 never be sufficient for long and coarse hemp. The hemp 

 so cleaned, and especially the coarse quality for cordage, 

 is put up in bales for commerce, and the finest quality 

 is carded, in order to be spun. 



Of Flax, 



The best flax amongst us, is that which is cultivated 

 in the Cremonese and Cremese, In other places, its 

 filaments are neither so long, nor so thin, and its cul- 

 tivation is not profitable. As it impoverishes the land, 

 it requires a good soil. Two species, or rather two va- 

 rieties of flax are cultivated. One called Vermno^ (grow- 

 ing in winter) and the other Marzolo^ (growing in the 

 spring.) For the first one, they till the ground in summer, 

 manure it in August, and sow it in September. This 

 species withstands the cold, but gives a coarser filament, 

 and a larger quantity of seed. The Marzolo is that 

 which is generally sown in the Cremonese. It delights 

 in a light soil, not clayey ; substantial, but not too rich ; 

 it requires open and unshaded fields. They till the 

 ground in autumn, and level it with the harrow ; they 

 then go over it with the roller, and once more with the 

 harrow, if it is not perfectly even. About the end of 

 March, when the white frosts are over, they sow the flax. 

 Having the advantage of watering the field, the flax 

 thrives well ; but this must not be done, until the atmos- 

 phere begins to grow warm, that is to say in April or 

 March amongst us. The irrigation must take place 

 every ten or fifteen days, but never when the flax is in 

 blossom. Flax requires a very diligent weeding ; espe- 

 cially on account of the Gatta del Lino ( Cuscuta Eu- 



