CULTIVATION OF PLANTS. 1(37 



the other hand the upper frame is made to work upon the flax 

 by repeated strokes. In this manner the flax is bruised, and 

 put into a state to have the ligneous refuse separated from the 

 fibrous parts by beating or scutching, which may be perform- 

 ed either by machinery or by manual labour. When by the 

 latter, the flax is suspended by one hand over a plank, and beat 

 by a flat piece of wood held in the other hand. The whole 

 process is tedious and laborious; but the inventive genius of 

 our countrymen bids fair to overcome these objections. Ma- 

 chines having been invented not only to prepare it, but to 

 pull it in the field. 



One of the greatest difficulties that has interposed with many 

 against the raising of flax, was the great difficulty and labour 

 of pulling it; being regarded as one of the most severe and 

 laborious operations of the farm. But this difficulty is in a 

 fair way of being surmounted, if, indeed, it is not already over- 

 come, by the invention of a Flax Pulling Machine, by a citizen 

 of Hunterdon county, New Jersey. Of this implement, we 

 can say nothing from personal knowledge or observation, as 

 we have not yet seen it. But it has been tried by many of the 

 first farmers in Hunterdon and the adjacent counties, who 

 cordially recommend it as performing its work as perfectly as 

 can be done by hand, and pulling many acres in a day. It is 

 drawn by horses. 



To complete the process, and to get the fibres suited into 

 lengths so as to be fitted for spinning, the lint goes to a class 

 of persons whose province it is to give it this final preparation. 

 These are termed hecklers. The heckler operates by means of 

 a set of numerous teeth, placed vertically upon a board. The 

 flax is pulled repeatedly through these teeth by the hand. In 

 this way, and by using heckles of different sets of teeth, the 

 workman sorts the lint into lengths. The refuse after this 

 operation is tow. 



The produce of the flax injibre, varies greatly with the sea- 

 son, soil and management. In Europe, eight hundred pounds 

 to the acre are frequently obtained; but then very little seed is 

 obtained. We can form no opinion as to the probable average 

 of the crop in this country but it is not so great as in Europe. 

 The best cultivators of flax in Europe are the Flemings, among 

 whom the linen manufacture took early root, and who have 

 ever since pursued the culture of flax with diligence and suc- 

 cess. Ireland ranks next. But many parts of our country are 

 admirably adapted to its culture. The produce of flax in seed 

 is generally from six to eight, but sometimes ranging as high 

 as ten to twelve bushels to the acre. The seed is frequently 

 divided into three sorts the first sort is reserved for seed; the 



