178 DICTIONARY OF POPULAR NAMES FLAX 



the process of hackling, by which it is cleared of all extraneous 

 short fibre, wliich forms the article called Tow. The woven fabric 

 of Flax is called Linen, which varies in texture according to the 

 deo-ree of hackling and other preparations the Flax fibre has 

 underc^one. In Scotland, Flax in all its stages, before it is 

 converted into thread, is called Lint, — thus a Lint-field, a Lint- 

 mill, etc. In 1880 the quantity of Flax imported from all 

 countries amounted to 1,896,249 cwts. 



Linseed Oil is now extensively employed in the preparation 

 of printers' ink. By heating and other processes it assumes the 

 character of varnish, the black colour being given to it by lamp- 

 black, carbon black, Prussian blue, or indigo. Large quantities 

 of printers' ink, even to hundreds of tons, are now annually 

 made from Linseed Oil. 



The best writing paper is made from the pulp of linen rags. 



Flax, New Zealand {Phormium tenax), a stemless per- 

 manent sword-leaved plant of the Lily family (Liliacese), native 

 of New Zealand. The leaves are smooth, 4 to 6 feet long, and 

 2 inches wide, of a firm texture, and abounding in stout 

 fibre. The flowers are red, borne on a scape in panicles. Scape 

 10 or even more feet in height. In jS'ew Zealand it occupies 

 large tracts of country, and is used by the natives for making 

 ropes, mats, etc. Large quantities have been imported into this 

 country. It is tolerably hardy, and about sixty years ago (1822) 

 a company was established for its cultivation in the South of 

 Ireland, but its slow growth caused it to be abandoned. 



Flea-bane, African {Tarchonanthus camj^liorata), a strong- 

 growing shrub, often attaining the size of a small tree 10 to 15 

 feet high, having elliptical, greyish leaves, smelling strongly of 

 camphor, which has led it to be considered efficacious in driving 

 away fleas. It is a native of the Cape of Good Hope. It 

 belongs to the Composite family (Compositse), and is the largest 

 and most woody representative of this extensive family in 

 South Africa. It is also known by the name of Wild Sage. 



Flea-bane Powder, — Pyrethrum carneum, P. rosewn, and P. 

 purpiLreum, natives of Caucasus, and probably varieties only of 



