304 



MINOR FIBRE CROPS 



Harvesting. A common grain binder is used for harvesting 

 flax when it is grown for seed. The bundles are placed in shocks 

 and may remain for some weeks without injury. The ordinary 



FiG.IDY. Fiber flax in Michigan. The flax is pulled by hand, tied in bundlesand cured 

 in shocks, and when dry the farmer sells it to the scutching companies, who thrash the seed, 

 and ret, break and scutch the straw. (U. S. D. A.) 



FIG. 198. Flax brake. Four pairs of fluted rollers, with an interrupted or partly re- 

 versed motion to give a rubbing effect, through which the dew-retted straw is fed rather 

 slowly and only a handful at a time. Two men will break 300 to 500 pounds of fibre per day. 



grain thrashing machine is used for separating the seed from the 

 straw. After the thrashing is over, the seed may be stored for 

 future marketing, or may be hauled directly to market from the 



