FLAX 57 



mentation thus increased. The retting operation is then 

 completed on the third day, in the third or rinsing tank. The 

 operations are continuous, the tanks being all kept full and 

 their contents passed on in sequence. Only a very small 

 quantity of water is required and is admitted to the third tank, 

 and from thence led to the second and first tanks by means of 

 syphons, entering through the perforated bottoms of the tanks 

 and rising up through the stems. The current of water thus 

 resembles that in the River Lys, but while the quality of the 

 water of the river varies from time to time, the flow of water 

 through the tanks is perfectly uniform, both as regards quantity, 

 quality, and temperature. The direction of the current of 

 water through the tanks being parallel with the stalks of the 

 flax instead of perpendicular to it, as in the river, is another 

 factor in favour of the new process, assuring more active and 

 regular fermentation. 



When the crates of fully-retted straw are lifted from the last 

 tank they are deposited upon a truck and allowed to drain 

 before being removed to the drying-ground or shed. The 

 mechanical manipulation of the wet straw is in itself a great 

 advantage, for the handling of the wet straw in the usual way, 

 before the slimy matter has had time to dry, does not improve 

 the quality of the fibre. 



Owing to the methodical and regular manner in which the 

 retting operation is conducted, flax and hemp retted under the 

 .Legrand system is more regular in strength and colour than 

 those produced in any other way, and it is universally admitted 

 by experts to be worth even more than fibre from the same 

 straw retted in the Lys. It has besides, as we have said, the 

 advantage that it can be carried out in any flax-growing centre, 

 and the operation performed all the year round without stopping. 



The period required is reduced to three days instead of fifteen 

 or eighteen days, and a considerable reduction is effected in 

 labour, for two men can ret two tons per day. The production 

 of " water-slain " fibre is avoided. Water-slain fibres are 



