31,2 AGRICUT.TrnAL T.lUSEt;-M 



handlings, and, as it is said, much skiil to ascertain: in- 

 deed they !=:iy that lonu^ practice alone can enable a per- 

 son to jndge eoj'roctly on this point. In that climate 

 however the steepin«2: usually continues about ten clays i 

 sometimes exlendins: to a fortnip;Iit. . 



From the pit in which it has been ptccpcd, ihc Flax 

 is removed to a meadow, from which ihe grass has 

 been recently cut, where the sheaves ai'e iinlied and the 

 FIox evenly' spread, soao to cover about as much ground 

 as it was raised upon. Here it is sniVcred to lay until 

 the woody substance of the stem, separates freely from 

 the filaments of the Flax, the latter remaining uninjur- 

 ed. Ijenee this process termed '' rating" hke that ol 

 stcejiing depends much upon the weather, requiiing the 

 daily observation of a!i experienced Flax grower, to 

 ensure the maximum of success. Should the weather 

 be unfavorable to the drying of the Flax when suffici 

 ently rated, which is Irequcntly the ciise in that moist 

 cliitiate, itis gathered into small conical Iieaps, resting 

 on its butt or bottom ends to dry. After tliis is effected, 

 U is carried to the barn or other place where itis secured 

 from the weather. 



In preparing the Flax for the market itis necessary 

 to separate the woody j)art from the filament, or exterior 

 covering of the plant, of which the Flax consists. This 

 is by an operation termed swingling, well known in coun- 

 tries where Flax is raised. In the jiart of England refer- 

 red to, it is generally performed by persons following it 

 as a business, and who travel from place to place for tliat 

 purpose: and as they are generally well skilled in the 

 rjTiaiity of the article; they are also employed by the 

 farmers to superintend both the" steeping and rating'* 

 of the crop. To effect this process of swinghng, the 

 stubborn stems are first mangled or broke in an instru- 

 ment called a break ; after which the woody part is se. 

 parated from the long fibre by beating it over the edge 

 of a stout board or slab, with a kind of wooden broad axe 

 or sabre, formed instrument ; and from time to time 

 drawinsT out the tow, or broken ^laments by pican'j of a 



