10 FLAX CULTURE AND PREPARATION 



cellulose, the remainder being pectic bodies, waxes, and fatty 

 matter, are held together by pectinous compounds. 



The flax fibre is frequently classified as a pectic cellulose 

 body. The foreign and non-cellulosic constituents are soluble 

 in boiling alkaline solutions. A boiling of 1 to 2 per cent, solu- 

 tion will extract all the pectic compounds. The pure cellulose 

 remaining cannot then be differentiated chemically from the 

 cellulose of the cotton fibre. The chemical tests for flax are 

 only useful when the natural impurities are present. The 

 infallible test for distinguishing cotton and flax is largely 

 mechanical the use of the microscope. 



