116 FLAX CULTURE AND PREPARATION 



temperature of 90 F. The retting was complete in fifty to 

 seventy hours. 



Numerous other methods all embodying the same funda- 

 mental principles, have been tried, including the experiments 

 carried out at Mill Isle, co. 

 Down, Ireland, in 1904-5-6, 

 where the water in the tanks 

 was maintained at an average 

 temperature of 72 (68-77 F.), 

 and provision made for a 

 constant inlet and exit flow of 

 water. 



Periodically good fibre results 

 have apparently been obtained 

 from warm water retting but 

 when subjected to commercial 

 and practical tests they have 

 produced an inferior yarn, or 

 the cost has been too great. In 

 many cases the defects have 

 been due to either the use of 

 water of an abnormally high 

 temperature or the too-rapid 

 change of the retting water. 



At the present time there 

 are a large number of warm- 

 water retting methods either 

 in actual practice or in course 

 of preparation, e.g. 



101. TheDromara Fibre 



Corporation Tank Retting. A series of five ferro-concrete 

 tanks, approximately 60 X 30 X 5 ft., and capable of 

 holding about 10 tons of dry unretted straw, are con- 

 structed side by side under the same roof. About 10 tons 

 of water are required for watering each ton of straw. The 

 water is taken from the river, which is of good quality soft, 



FIG. 66 



FIG. 67 



