CHAPTER XI 



RETTING 



91. Functions of Retting. 92. Experimental Work. 93. 

 Laboratory Investigations. 94. Betting Practices. 95. Pond Bet- 

 ting. 96. Idiosyncrasies of Flax Betting. 97. Betting in Sluggish 

 Bivers (Lys). 98. Twice Betting. 99. Dew Betting. 100. Arti- 

 ficial or Warm Water Betting. 101. The Dromara Fibre Corporation. 

 Tank Betting. 102. Legrand's Warm Water Betting. 103. The 

 Bossi Process of Betting. 104. Spreading. 105. Gaiting. 



91. Functions of Retting. The fibres of the flax plant in 

 their natural state are bound to the stem by a pectinous com- 

 pound, a substance which is characteristically gummy or 

 gelatinous. 



For commercial purposes it is essential to separate the 

 fibres from the stem, and this object is accomplished by retting 

 and scutching. 



The function of retting is to decompose, by fermentation, 

 the adhesive substances which bind the fibres to the stem, 

 and simultaneously and sufficiently rot the pith or stem to 

 such an extent that in the subsequent operation of scutching 

 it will break and freely separate from the fibres which are 

 held, and remain in the scutcher's hand. 



Fermentation is a chemical action induced by the pres- 

 ence of a ferment. All processes of fermentation, natural 

 decomposition and putrefaction are microbic in origin. 



Germs, microbes, micro-organisms and bacteria are synony- 

 mous terms which are generally and loosely used to refer to 

 the whole group of minute cells. 



The micro-organisms are of various kinds and shapes, and 

 are usually denominated bacteria. The word bacterium 

 literally means a rod. 



1 . Bacilli is a special term used to denote the group which 

 are of rod-like shape as distinguished from other shapes. The 

 aerobic and anaerobic bacilli belong to this group. 



101 



