104 FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 



The quantity of seed sown should be proportioned to the 

 strength of the soil. Flax of good length, but coarse, may 

 be raised on a soil far from being rich, if it be well mel- 

 lowed, clear of weeds, and sown with not more than three 

 pecks of seed to the acre. We have seen four hundred 

 and fifty pounds raised from one bushel of seed, sown on 

 better than an acre and a half of ground. Such flax is, 

 however, not so well fited for fine spining. Where the 

 stalks stand so thin as to branch at the roots, they also 

 branch widely at the tops, and, though more seed is in 

 such case to be expected, still the lint will be less in pro- 

 portion, and of a coarser quality. 



If flax is to be water-roted, it should be pulled as soon as 

 the blossoms have fallen off; and at this time the coat of 

 the stalk is stronger than afterwards. The ground also 

 which produces the crop is less exhausted, than when the 

 crop has stood until fully ripe. If it is to be roted on the 

 ground, it should stand until nearly ripe; and* then the seed 

 can be saved, which is a matter of some consequence. 

 That which is designed for affording seed, for sowing 

 again, should have the seeds ripened most before pulling. 



The process of water-roting flax, which is almost wholly 

 practised in Ireland, is very similar to that of water-roting 

 hemp, and the same precautions are requisite. 

 See HEMP. 



Probably the method of roting by boiling, as mentioned 

 there, might be found equally proper for flax. The method 

 common in this Country, of roting on the ground, is so well 

 known, that it is useless to say any thing of it farther, than 

 that the flax should be spread thin and evenly, and that it 

 should be turned over, when about half roted; otherwise 

 the under side will be more roted than the upper. 



Flax that is harsh may be softened, in the manner direct- 

 ed for hemp. That which is roted too much may be re- 

 stored to its strength, by keeping it a few years. 



It is a very nice point to give flax the proper degree of 

 roting. If roted too much, its strength is impaired for pre- 

 sent use, and it wastes more in cleaning; and, if roted too 

 little, a great addition of labor is requisite in firing it for 

 use. That which is coarse will rot quicker than that which 

 is fine; these should, therefore, be kept separate while 

 roting, in order that the latter have longer time for this 

 purpose. The short and the long should also be sorted, as 

 it is inconvenient to have them mixed, in dressing. 



In some parts of Europe, the dressing of flax is a busi- 

 ness carried on by itself, and water-machinery is generally 

 used for the purpose. Many kinds of labor are accelerated 

 by being divided into different branches ; as it is found that 

 those following a particular branch become more expert in 



