PULLING AND HARVESTING, 47 



be done without time and care ; but it can be done, and 

 should always be done. The beets should be small, 

 evenly sized, straight, and even, and should never be put 

 up in stocks or wind-rows, but taken to the pond the day 

 they are pulled, or the day after at longest, especially in 

 bright weather; for the discoloration produced by the sun 

 on green flax will never be removed till it goes to the 

 bleacher, and will give him some trouble also." 



The latter sentence is given to show the Irish mode of 

 treating flax for the finer fabrics. On the continent, it 

 is not the usual practice to steep it anything like so soon 

 after pulling. The seed, in such cases, would appear to 

 be sacrificed; for there seem to be no means of saving 

 it where steeping is hurried on so rapidly, nor are any 

 mentioned. 



When the crop grows short and branchy, it is esteemed 

 more valuable for seed than for its fibrous bark, and then 

 it is not gathered until the seeds are at full maturity. 

 But if the stalks grow straight and long, then all care of 

 the seed becomes a secondary consideration, and the flax 

 is pulled at the most favourable period for obtaining good 

 fibres. Experience has shown that when the bloom has 

 just fallen, when the stalks begin to turn yellow, and 

 before the leaves fall, the fibres are softer and stronger 

 than if left standing until the seed is quite matured. It 

 is well known that most seeds, though not quite mature 

 when gathered, ripen sufficiently after being plucked, 

 provided that they be not detached until dry from the 

 parent plant ; all the sap which this contains contributing 

 towards further nourishing and perfecting the seed. The 

 Dutch avail themselves of this fact with regard to their 

 flax crop. After pulling the plants, they stack them. 

 The seed by this means becomes ripe, while the fibres are 

 collected at the most favourable period of their growth. 

 They thus obtain both of their valuable products from 

 their plants, and supply their less careful neighbours 

 with the seeds. 



In the Pas de Calais, flax sown in February and at the 

 beginning of March, will be fit to pull from the 15th to 



