CONTENTS. 



FLAX. 



Varied analogies and uses of flax . . . . , . Page 1 



Antiquity of the use of flax . . . . . . . . . . 3 



Progress of the growth of flax in the west . . . . . . 4 



Past and existing impediments to the culture of flax in England 5 



The flax plant 10 



The so-called various kinds of flax, and their seed . . . . 12 



Characteristic qualities of good flax-seed . . . . . . 21 



Appropriate soils, and previous preparation . . . . . . 22 



The place of flax in the rotation of crops . . . . . . 26 



Sowing the times ; the mode ; and the quantity of seed . . 34 



Progress of the seedling crop . . . . . . . . . . 39 



Weeding and sticking . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 



Pulling and harvesting . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 



Thrashing the seed . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 



The steeping, retting, or watering . . . . . . . . 51 



The scutching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 



Value of flax to the community at large . . . . . . 70 



The flax-grower's balance-sheet. . .. .. .. 82 



Delivering the scutched flax, and the subsequent processes . . 88 



Uses to which linseed may be applied . . . . . . . . 95 



