330 Cultivation of Arable Land. FlaxDetv-rttting of. 



In water-rating the flax, ponds of ftagnant foft clear water are conftantly prefer 

 red, as being found much fuperior to thofe of other kinds. The greater the degree 

 of warmth the water has attained before the flax is immerfed in it, the fooner the 

 procefs is effected, the heat of the water greatly promoting the perfect reparation 

 of the harl or flaxy material from the reed. The rule for judging when the flax 

 has undergone a fuflficient degree of maceration in the water, is that of the cuticle or 

 fkin readily peeling off from the bun or (talk the whole length ; the latter breaking 

 as if rotten, and appearing of a deep yellow colour. 



The manner of depofiting the flax in the water is much the fame as that al 

 ready defcribed for hemp : in forne cafes, however, inftead of the fmall bundles 

 of flax being placed croffways over each other, they are fet in an erect pofition, 

 the tops of every layer except the loweft being upwards. And inftead of keep 

 ing the whole down below the furface of the water by (tones, wood, or other 

 heavy materials, earth is made ufe of, to the depth of a few inches, and men em 

 ployed to tread the whole down occafionally once or twice a-day at firft, fo as 

 to keep it from riling above the furface ; as when that happens, the flax becomes 

 &quot;black and the fale is injured.* The firft feems, however, the moft fimple and 

 -eafy method. 



After having thus remained in the water a proper length of time, as five, fix, 

 or more days, according to the particular circumftances of the cafe, the flax is 

 taken from the pits by means of drags, and laid on the fides perfectly ftraight for 

 a few hours, in order that it may become fomevvhat dry ; it is then removed to 

 a pafture or grafs field that has been lately mown, where it is to be fpread out 

 &quot;thinly in rows in as even and regular a manner as poflible, each row overlapping 

 the other a few inches, in order the better to prevent their being difturbed by the 

 wind. When left in lumps and not fpread evenly, the flax is liable to become 

 green, and never afterwards to be capable of being made a good colour. 



After having remained in this fituation for a few days, it fhould be turned, 

 which is belt done after a mower or two of rain. When the colour is become 

 perfectly bright and even, and the cuticle or {kin begins to rife, blifter, and 

 feparate from the ftem or reed, it is ready to be taken up. For this bufinefs 

 a fine dry day fhould be chofen, if poflible; and the flax, after being bound into 

 pretty large bundles, may either be ftacked up for ufc afterwards, or be imme 

 diately broken and fcutched in the manner already advifed for hemp. 



In the fecond or dew-retting method, which is much practifed in fome of the 

 fouthern diftricts of the kingdom, as in Dorfctfhire, the flax, immediately after 



* Corrected Report of ibe Weil Riding of Yorkshire. 



