CULTIVATION OF FLAX. 95 



are found enveloped in it, and it is now mostly worn by the people 

 there. Most of the neighboring nations are furnished with it from 

 Egypt. From thence it passed to Greece and Rome. Indeed little 

 other cloth, prior to the comparatively late introduction of cotton, was 

 worn by civilized nations, and most fine fabrics still continue to be 

 made of it in the south of Europe, and imported to this country. 



Flax has been an article of considerable export from this country, 

 and also the seed. In 1770, 312,000 bushels of seeds were exported, 

 and the average annual amount for 22 years, prior to 1816, was 250,- 

 000 bushels. It being an exhausting crop, much less attention is now 

 paid to its cultivation. The smooth, rich prairies of the West afford, 

 however, a good soil for its cultivation to any extent. The best soil 

 is flat bottoms covered by fall and spring floods, and reclaimed marshes 

 and swamps. Top dressings of plaster, ashes, soot, &c., are impor- 

 tant, just after the plant appears. Salt is excellent manure, ploughed 

 in with flax, at the rate of five bushels to the acre. The best paper 

 is made of linen rags, for which they are greatly used. 



The cultivation of Jinx is comparatively small in this country. The 

 value of the manufactures in 1840 was $322,205, and the capital in- 

 vested was $208,087. The best seed for growth comes from Holland. 

 It is sown in March or April, and pulled in autumn, laid in the sun to 

 dry, then tied in small bundles and laid in a pond of water for 10 or 

 15 days, by which the bark becomes separated. It is then spread in 

 the sun until dry and brittle, so that the flax easily separates from the 

 stalk. It is then sent to a mill to be broken and dressed, or this is 

 done by hand, in which a handful is taken in one hand and laid on a 

 table or flax-brake and beaten, then drawn forcibly over the edge of a 

 board and afterwards heckled or combed on a board filled with iron 

 teeth. Dressing mills are, however, now common, especially in. 

 this state, and on an improved principle, so as to dress it in an unrot- 

 ted state, and at a toll of a tenth. The medium price of flax is 10 cts. 

 per Ib. The expense of dressing has been reduced in this country from 

 1-3 to a 10th its value, and spinning machines are now in use here for 

 making thread and cloth, and nothing is wanting but the application 

 of power-looms to compete with foreign fabrics. 



The water in which it is rotted is poisonous to animals. It under- 

 goes various dressings, according to the use for which it is designed. 

 It has not been placed in water in many cases of late, but dew-rotted ; 

 by which, it is said, the fibre is much stronger. It is cut and stacked 

 like the grains, after which the capsules and fibres are separated by 

 machinery. The remains of the flax are used as fodder for horses and 

 cattle. The bleaching is effected by steeping the flax in soft soap. 

 Running water is also used, or that of canals, for rotting flax. This 

 is better for the fibre than stagnant water, though double the time is 

 required. In any water, it must be turned once in 3 or 4 days. Boil- 



