On Italian Hemp and Flax, 209 



ropcea)^ which does it sfreat harm. Flax is sen rather 

 thick, to the object of having longer stalks ; by sow- 

 ing it thinner, it throws out its branches, and produces a 

 larger quantity of seed, from which they extract the oil. 

 When the stems begin to acquire a light green colour, 

 inclining to yellow, and have lost three-fourths of their 

 leaves, they pluck it up by the roots, pack it up in bun- 

 dles and leave it out to dry, in order to extract the seed ; 

 it is then put to macerate. The water must be pure and 

 running ; the pond must be walled, and well plastered 

 within. They fill up the pond entirely, and contrive so 

 as to have the water going in and out, passing over it, 

 without stagnating in it. The maceration being complete, 

 they clean the pond, and put in other flax. 



The bundles taken out of the pond, are put up in a 

 round heap, with the roots outside, and are covered with 

 boards and stones. Some davs afterward, they feel the 

 flax with a hand, and if the heap begins to get heated, 

 they undo it, and spread the bundles, exposing them to 

 the sun. They are in the sequel, laid under the Gramola^ 

 beaten with the spattle, to shake oflf the hard or woody 

 part, and lastly, combed. 



The experiments made here with Christien's engine, 

 have been rather successful ; breaking the flax, and de- 

 priving it of the w-oody part, as soon as it is dry, without 

 macerating it, and then packing and combing it, a finer 

 and stronger filament is obtained, of a yellowish colour^ 

 which it looses by boiling it with soap. By this method, 

 we have had it in a single day, mashed or cleaned with 

 the engine, combed, spun, and bleached. 



In Tuscany, they make a common, but very durable 

 cloth, with the bark of the Genista, (Spartium junceum) 

 or broom, which abounds everywhere in untilled grounds. 

 Such a manufacture is carried on at the Casciana Baths^ 



* Dodder. 



