FIBER-PRODUCING PLANTS 117 



Description of the Plant. Flax is an annual which grows to a 

 height of two to four feet, and it bears on the end of its branches 

 clusters of pretty blue or white flowers. It has a threadlike 

 taproot to which are attached a few tender lateral branches. The 

 seeds are small and have a bright polished surface, and vary in 

 color from yellow to a light or dark brown. The culture of flax 

 when grown for seed is similar to that of spring wheat, and two to 

 four pecks of seed are required to the acre. When grown for seed 

 only, the crop may be harvested with a self binder, shocked, and 

 thrashed with an ordinary thrashing machine; but when grown 

 for fiber the crop must be pulled by hand. This is necessary for 

 the following reasons: (1) to secure straw of full and even length; 

 (2) to avoid stain and injury of the lower portion of the straw, 

 which would occur if it were cut and shocked like wheat; (3) to 

 insure better curing of the straw; (4) to avoid the blunt cut ends 

 of the fiber which results when the stalk is cut. 



Uses. Large quantities of flax are raised for seed, which often 

 sells for a dollar a bushel. From the seed is obtained an oil which 

 is used extensively in the manufacture of paint, varnish, and 

 printer's ink. It is also used in the manufacture of oilcloth, lino- 

 leum, artificial rubber, and soap. The plant furnishes two forms 

 of commercial fiber that are of value. One is the straight, long 

 lint which is used in the manufacture of fabrics ; and the other is 

 the short, tangled fiber called tow, used for seaming joints and 

 calking boats, for upholstering, and for making bagging, paper, and 

 twine. The finer and longer fiber is used in the manufacture of 

 laces, fine linens, dress goods, crash and towel goods, and thread. 

 Other valuable products are the hulls and linseed meal which re- 

 main after the oil has been extracted from the seed. From these 

 a kind of oil cake is prepared which forms a valuable stock food. 



Grading. The usual legal weight of flaxseed in the United 

 States is fifty-six pounds to the bushel. The standard for market- 

 ing purposes is No. 1 Northern grade, which must weigh fifty-one 

 pounds or more per bushel and must not contain more than one 

 eighth damaged seeds. Our annual production is over twenty-five 

 million bushels. 



Hemp. This plant is a native of Asia and has been cultivated 

 in China from very early times. It is a rough, sturdy annual, grow- 



