THE CRIMSON FLAX. 12 3 



March, and in due time the plants must be thinned to six 

 inches apart. They require no support and no special 

 attention,, and dryness with heat will do them no harm 

 if they have been assisted in the early stages to become 

 well established. 



In common with most other plants, the crimson flax 

 is greatly benefited by systematic removal of the flowers 

 as their beauty declines, to prevent the growth of seed. 

 But if seed be wanted, they must be allowed to run their 

 course, and the round seed-pods must be gathered when 

 nearly ripe, and be spread in the sun under cover to finish, 

 when the seed may be shelled out, and stored away in a 

 paper or linen bag. 



The common flax (Linnm nsitatissimuni) ; although but 

 little prized as a garden plant, is not wanting in beauty. 

 Its extremely light and airy style of growth, and its 

 comparatively large salver-shaped blue or white flowers, 

 render it an interesting if not an attractive plant. Of 

 its uses it would be almost idle to speak here, because 

 we could not hope in a. few words to convey to the reader 

 anything that is not already well known. However, at 

 the risk of retailing stale news, we will briefly record 

 that we have seen flax fibre prepared for the workers 

 in .Brussels lace, and have experienced surprise at the 

 excessive care bestowed upon the business, while all 

 wonder as to the high prices of the best kinds of lace 

 was by the same experience taken away. The flax is 

 grown with great care at Hal and Rebecque, and the 

 retting is conducted with scrupulous nicety, to secure 

 clean fibre of great strength. The thread for the lace is 

 spun in rooms kept nearly dark, to discipline the eye and 

 the fingers to the delicate task of rejecting all that is 



