FIBER PLANTS 



415 



region. It belongs to a small family (Linacese), which re- 

 ceived its name from the' flax genus (Linum). The name of 

 the common flax is Linum usitatissimum, which means 

 " most useful flax." It is a low herb, with narrow leaves 

 and handsome blue flowers (Fig. 81). 



It is cultivated for the fibers of its stem and also for its 

 seeds. The fibers are long, fine, and very strong, so that it 

 can be spun into very stout thread (linen thread) and woven 

 into very durable cloth (linen) . This 

 fiber is also used when especially 

 strong twine or rope or sails are 

 needed. Every one is familiar with 

 the strong body of oil-cloth, which is 

 woven of flax fiber. The seeds yield 

 the well-known linseed oil, used for 

 mixing paints and varnishes, and in 

 various other ways. 



This very useful plant has been 

 cultivated from the earliest times, 

 but now its most extensive cultiva- 

 tion in Europe is in Russia, Belgium, 

 and Ireland. In the United States 

 it has been cultivated for its seed 

 ever since the first settlements, but 

 lately it has attracted attention as a fiber plant, especially 

 in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and 

 Washington. 



The world's production of flaxseed in 1898 was about 

 76,000,000 bushels, Europe producing 31,000,000 bushels, 

 America 27,000,000 bushels, and India 18,000,000 bushels. 

 In the same year the production of fiber was about 1,800,000 

 pounds, all of which is credited to Europe. About ten years 

 later, in 1909, the world's production of flaxseed amounted 

 to 101,000,000 bushels; and in 1912 the United States pro- 

 duced about 28,000,000 bushels. 



FIG. 81. A flax plant. 



