16 TEXTILE FIBRES. 



flax plants are then " rippled," that is, the seed capsules are separated 

 from the radial branches of the plant. 



In Ireland retting is carried out by placing bundles of rippled stalks 

 of flax, root downwards, in pits or running streams of water and covering 

 them with sods, straw or rushes. As the fermentation proceeds bubbles 

 of gas (marsh gas and carbon dioxide) rise to the surface of the water. 



Fig. 6. Flax seedling. 



When the cortex readily separates from the cylinder, the fibres are 

 exposed to the air and afterwards packed, or stacked, before being taken 

 to the scutching mill. 



Dew Retting. The flax is exposed to the influences of sunlight and 

 atmospheric conditions, whereby the fibres become brown, soft and silky. 



Cotton Flax. Flax fibres that have been steeped in a weak solution 

 of caustic soda, boiled in a solution containing 5 per cent, of carbonate 

 of soda, and immersed in a vat containing water acidulated with 

 sulphuric acid, acquire the appearance of fine white silk or cotton. 



