73 



I.. .,„,. 



^Bhave silky flax and ripe seed from the same crop. 

 "•"*' Although the farmer does not choose to risk the quality of 

 his lint, by allowing the seed to come to maturity, yet the seed 

 ought to be rippled off", after the lint, in the sheaves, has dried 

 so much, that this operation may be performed without tear- 

 ing the ring; and this seed maybe sold to the oil-mill for 

 having the oil extracted. The cakes are an excellent food for 

 cattle, or may be used on grass-lands as a top dressing. 



Soft water is best for steeping lint ; and it is sufficiently 

 watered when the reed breaks without bending, and the rind 

 parts easily from the reed. It is absurd to leave the lint a 

 certain number of days invariably in the canal. When the 

 weather is warm and the water is soft, it is much sooner ready 

 than otherwise. The longer the water has been let into the 

 canal, before the lint is immersed into it, the more rapid the 

 putrefaction. Lint is ready to be taken up from the field, 

 whenever the bark blisters and rises from the reed. 



In order to save the seed of flax, some persons who are know- 

 ing in the business recommend to set up the lint sheaves, after 

 pulling it, in stooks, like grain, and when thoroughly winn to 

 stack it until the next spring. The seed is then easily rubbed 

 off by a roller, without injury to the flax, by putting the sheaves 

 head to head. The profit on saving the seed is estimated to 

 be from 5/. to 6/. per acre. The farmer, by this process, has 

 the whole summer before him to water and dress his lint, with- 

 out encroaching on the operations of the autumn in these 

 respects. 



In the latter end of October, 1795, I observed vast fields of 

 lint in all that tract of country between the Seedlaw hills and 

 the Grampians, and not a little in other places, lying spread 

 upon the ground till the grass had almost covered it. If this 

 be the general practice, it is in a high degree prejudicial to 

 the quality of the lint. The excessive rains of that autumn 

 may have prevented the farmers from getting their flax dried, 

 after it was fully grassed and long enough on the field. But 

 why was it not set upon end ? Why were there no attempts 

 made to expose it to the wind during any intervals of dry 

 weather ? In the course of two months there must have been 



