Cultivation of Arable Land. Flax Water-retting. 



lightly threfhing or treading upon them ; the whole of which being afterwards 

 well cleaned by winnowing and fifting, and laid up in a dry room. And when a 

 large quantity is put together, it mould at firft be frequently turned over in order 

 to prevent its being injured by heating. The feed which is procured from fuch 

 crops as are intended for flax, and which have not Hood till it is perkxSHy ripened, 

 may be collected and fold for the purpofc of having the oil expreffed from it; 

 but it is improper for ufe as feed. 



Some experienced cultivators of Max, when grown for feed, fet up the produce/ 

 when ried into (heaves, in the manner of grain, and when it is become perfectly dry, 

 have it (lacked up until the enfuing fpring, when, by placing the tops of the 

 fheaves towards each other.and making ufe of a roller, tne feed is eafily forced out. 

 In this way more time is fuppofed to be allowed for the after-ma lag-ment.* In 

 mod diftricts where much attention is bellowed, it is 1 kewife the practice, even 

 when the crops are only cultivated for the purpofe of the flax, to ripple off the 

 feed pods before the bufmefs of watering is commenced ; as it is found from 

 experience, that when it is put into the water without this having I een done, 

 the water, irom its quickly becoming putrid, is liable to do much injury to the 

 flax. 



The ftem parts are tied up into fmall parcels containing two or three handfuls, 

 in a rather loofe manner, in order to their being carried to the pond for the purpofe 

 of watering, which is the next operation that becomes neceffary. 



The intention of this procefs is that of inducing a flight degree of putrefaction, 

 by which the fubftance that unites the flaxy material to the ftem or reed is 

 deftroyed, and the flax of courfe rendered eafily feparable. In this crop, as in 

 that of hemp, there are two methods practifed for the purpofe of accomplifhing 

 the bufinefs ; one of which is immerfing it in ponds of ftagnant water for fome 

 time, and the other by expofing it to the influence of the atmofphere till the fame 

 circumftance takes jJace. The former is the moft general practice, and com 

 monly efteemed more certain as well as more fafe from injuring the flax j the exact 

 point of putrefaction that is requinte not being fo eafily afcertained in the latter 

 method. Whichever practice is adopted, the length of time which is required 

 for accompliming the purpofe, depends confiderably upon the (late of ripenefs at 

 which the crop has been pulled, the quality and temperature of the water in which 

 it is placed, and the moifture or drynefs and warmth of the feafon in which it is 

 expofed. 



* Perth Correded Report, 



