146 



FLA 



FLO 



" The exportation of linen from 

 Geriiaiiy to North and South A- 

 menra has been, and is at present, 

 of vast amount. The single pro- 

 vince of Sile?ia has sent in one 

 year to Hamburgh and other ports, 

 linens to the value of nearly five 

 millions of dollars, to be shipped 

 by the circuitous route of Cadiz to 

 the Spanish colonies. These cus- 

 tomers are at our doors. The 

 United States posses* the "Golden 

 Gates of this Commerce," and with 

 exertions well directed to her ag- 

 riculture, Europe will be obliged 

 to surrender the keys." See Mass. 

 Agr. Rep. vol. VI. p. 304. 



Since the above was written a 

 machine has been constructed in 

 New-York for dressing flax, or 

 hemp in its unrotted state, be- 

 longing to Messrs. Anthony Dey, 

 and James Macdonald, of that 

 city. It is made to go by wa- 

 ter or animal power, and on trial, 

 was worked with facility by four 

 men. It is estimated that when 

 driven by the proper power, the 

 inachine,will clear one ton of flax- 

 plant or hemp, rotted, or unrotted 

 in a day. Flax, dressed in this 

 machine, resembles floss silk, and 

 it is estimated, that it may be 

 cleaned through the machine, and 

 brought to this state for about two 

 cents a pound. The machine is 

 of American invention, and said to 

 be unlike any English machine in- 

 vented or used for the same or a si- 

 m;lar purpose. See Mass. Agr. 

 Rep. vol. VII. p. 66. 



FLAX BRAKE, a machine used 

 in dressing flax. New improve- 

 ments of it are, placing the teeth so 

 as to converge towards the fore 



part, and laying the upper teeth 

 higher at the hinder part. That 

 this machine may last for any con- 

 siderable time, care should be ta- 

 ken that it be not exposed to the 

 injuries of the weather. 



Brakes may be constructed to go 

 by water. Either a mill ntay be 

 built for that purpose ; or, which 

 is attended with less expense, the 

 machinery may be an appendage 

 to some larger mill, and moved 

 without a distinct water wheel. — 

 But such brakes are attended with 

 sundry inconveniences, besides 

 extra cost in building them, and 

 wasting of the flax : Though it 

 cannot be denied that the work 

 may be performed with much 

 greater expedition. 



Not only brakes, but scutchers, 

 or swinging mills, have been in- 

 vented, to be moved by the foot. 

 Part of the exertion of the labour- 

 er may undoubtedly be saved by 

 them. At least, when they are 

 used by way of change, the work 

 may be lightened on the whole, — 

 They who think it expedient to 

 have these machines, may find 

 them described, with cuts annexed, 

 in the Complete Farmer, 



FLOODING, FLOATING, or 

 DROWNING, covering of low 

 lands with water, when a rivulet 

 passes through them, by making a 

 dam at the outlet. When there is 

 a sufficiency of water, and a short 

 dam will answer, this is a piece of 

 husbandry that ought not to be 

 neglected. Oftentimes it may be 

 of great advantage. 



Sometimes it is done for the pur- 

 pose of destroying the natural 

 growth of trees, bushes. &c. The 



