39O THE FORAGE AND FIBER CROPS IN AMERICA 



Since the tough bast cells lie between the tender thin-walled 

 cells of the parenchyma and cambium, it is possible, by "retting" 

 the stems, to clear the flax fibers from the adjacent cells. The 

 retting, which may be done by allowing the stems to be exposed 

 to dew or rain, or by placing in pools of water, causes the 

 parenchyma and cambium cells to decay or become tender, and 

 thus permits the tougher fiber cells to be separated. (496) 

 The bast or flax fiber cells are from 0.08 to 0.16 inch long, but 

 they are so completely cemented together th^t continuous fibers 

 the length of the flax stem may be removed. The dry stems 

 of flax contain from 20 to 27 per cent, of bast, 58 per cent, 

 of which is pure fiber, 25 per cent, other substances soluble in 

 water, and 17 per cent, soluble in alkalis. 1 When dew retted, 

 the fiber is silvery gray; when water retted, yellowish white. 



Two forms of commercial fiber are obtained: long, straight 

 lint, 12 to 36 inches in length, and the short, tangled fiber which 

 in dressing separates from the long lint, and is called tow. 

 Coarse tow is also made by simply removing the remaining part 

 of the stem and baling the tangled mass. The latter is used in 

 upholstering and in making twine, bagging, and paper. Flax 

 fiber is sparingly produced in Ontario, Canada, and a few of 

 the northern United States. Flax fiber is produced principally 

 in the cool, moist, low lying regions of northern Europe. Flax 

 is the highest form of bast fiber, being used principally for the 

 manufacture of laces, fine linens, dress goods, and thread. 



494. Adaptation. Flax may be grown for seed in any cli- 

 mate or soil in which wheat can be successfully grown. Sandy 

 loams are rather better than heavy clay loams. For the produc- 

 tion of the best grades of fiber, a cool and continuously moist 

 climate and soil are requisite. It is rather easily injured by 

 late spring frosts. It requires about 90 days to mature. 



In the United States flax has always been a pioneer crop. It 

 is customary for the pioneer to break the prairie sod about two 



1 Minnesota Sta. Bui. No. 13 (1890), p. 37. 



