THE COMPOSITION OF FLAX. 



211 



No. 1, a sample of Dew-rotted Hemp. 

 No. 2, .. Water-rotted .. 



No. 3, a sample of Riga Rein Hemp. 

 No. 4, .. Rhodian* 



These samples were subjected to moisture and heat alternately, each treated 

 precisely alike. No. 1 first became decomposed ; next No. 2, and soon after it 

 No. 3 : all three completely rotten — No. 4 remaining sound, strong and sweet. 



As to the Brake : I send you a drawing of the model of the Brake, deposited 

 by Mr. Anderson in the Patent Office ; since then, however, he has changed his 

 plan of working the rollers. As soon as I return to Louisville I will send you a 

 drawing of the perfect machine. It is very simple, and easily made— costing 

 about $200 for a machine. The rollers and gearing are made of cast-iron— the 

 frame of wood. But little power is required to drive them ; two horses will be 

 sufficient for one machine, cleaning a ton of Hemp per day. 



LEWIS SANDERS. 



I have left at the American Institute, in the City of New- York, four samples 

 of Flax, for the examination and inspection of persons interested in its growth or 

 manufacture : 



Flax in its natural state. 

 . . water rotted. 



Flax steeped 12 hours in iron liquor 

 alum .. 



THE COMPOSITION OF FLAX, 



AND HOW TO MANAGE ITS CULTURE WITHOUT INJURY TO THE LAND. 



As connected with the preceding communication relative to the discovery of 

 a new and effectual Hemp and Flax Brake, by Mr. Anderson, of Kentucky, we 

 give the following from a recent Lecture by Professor Johnston: 



COMPOSITION OF THE ASH OF THE STEM OF THE FLAX PLANT. 



CONSTITUHNTS. 



Potash 



Soda 



Chloride of sodium . . 



Lime 



Ma2;nesia .. 



Oxide of iron 



Alumina 



Oxide of manganese. 



Sulphuric acid 



Phosphoric acid 



Carbonic acid 



Silica 



Total 100-007 



Per centaee of ash 4-237 



Near Dublin 



99-46 

 5-00 



After a few remai-ks on this Table, Profes- 

 sor Johnston went on to say that as in medi- 

 cine a knowledge of the disease was half the 

 cure, 80 in Agricnlturo a knowledge of the dis- 

 ease — for they might call that a disease which 

 was an exhaustion of the soil — enabled thcni 

 to supply to the soil what was taken from it 

 by the crop. As a means of doing this, he 

 showed tliat if the seed and bole mid husk 

 were mixed, they formed excellent food for 

 animals, and in proportion as they saved these 

 things tliey increased the quantity of manure. 

 He need not explain how the seed was used 



in fattening cattle; he would only say that 

 the seed and bole contained the combustilile 

 matter of plants, that which by a wonderful 

 process of chemistry in the bodies of animals 

 became transformed into bone, muscle and 

 (Icsh, and finally escaped from the animal, to 

 enabk; them to gi'ow richer and richer crops. 

 The subject of employing the seed he would 

 leave to those who had to follow him ; and 

 with regard to the increased value of the ma- 

 nure, he referred to Warnes's system of box 

 feeding, which was de.i^igned to insun; not 

 only a larger quantity of beef, but to increase 



The name given to Mr. Anderson's ncv? process. 

 (451) 



