- 46 



red broadcast, and left to take its chance. Only but little water is 

 wanted and no manure As regards the quality of soil, only but 

 little care is necessary, as the plant will even thrive on the very 

 heavy clays, hardening to the consistency of a stone. The plant is 

 at its best when in flower ; the straw 7 is of a small value. 



Linum usitatissimum ; Kittan ; Flax ; Linaceae. 



II : By seed ; which must be good and clean, large, plump, 

 heavy, bright, fresh with a thin shell. The seed is broadcasted at 

 the rate of 5 kelas per fdn. Sow thickly when the object is to 

 get good fibre ; sow thin when good seed is intended for. 



III : From last half of October to last half of November ; gene- 

 rally earlier in Upper Egpt. 



V : After 4 1/2 5 months ; in March, before the seed is quite ripe 

 and while the outer bark of the plant is in a state of fusibility. When the 

 low r er part of stalk becomes yellow, bottom leaves begin to fall and 

 last blossoms have disappeared. Pull by hand either at night or in early 

 morning Make loose sheaves and allow the plants to dry. Leave 

 until about July, then separate the seed by beating the sheaves on a 

 large stone. Steep or ret in water. 



VII : In Egypt Flax is grown for both fibre and seed ; from 

 the latter Linseed oil (Zcyt Har) is extracted, largely used for 

 culinary purposes as well as for burning. The oil is chiefly used by 

 the poor classes of natives either alone or mixed with other oils. 



Linseed contains from 3840 / of oil ; native mills get only 

 6075 rtls. per ardeb of seed. 



Linseed from Lr. Egt. contains more oil. Expressed in cold it has 

 a golden yellow colour ; obtained at a higher temper, it is yellowish 

 brown. It is the best drying oil, largely used in the manufacture of 

 oil for paint, etc. Oil-cake is extensively fed to stock particularly for 

 fattening and milk. 



The bleached fibre constitutes the well known Linen, the broken 

 short fibre being used for stuffing and paper-making. Under the micro- 

 scope the fibre has the appearance of a cylindrical tube, not conti- 

 nuous but broken up by septa at irregular distances. 



The linseed externally is used for poultices, Owing to its mucj- 



