306 



THE FLAX 



also that it yielded 5 per cent, more fibre, and that the 

 fibre was worth fully 10 per cent, more money in the 

 market. The flax was pulled before it was quite ripe, 

 the seed- bolls removed by rippling, and the straw imme- 

 diately placed in the pits. The seed, however, was re- 

 duced about 9d to Is. per bushel in value. The details 

 of the experiments he gives thus : l 

 FIRST EXPERIMENT. 



SECOND EXPERIMENT. 



This practice of steeping the flax in a green state before 

 it is fully matured, which, by the foregoing experiments, 

 appears to be attended with great advantages, is carried 

 on to a considerable extent in the Waes district of Bel- 

 gium. 



We are not in a position to give any very satisfactory 

 account of either the diseases or insect injuries to which 

 the flax crop is subject. The only injury that has been 

 noticed in this country arises from the presence of the 

 "flax dodder" Cuscuta epilinum a prominent mem- 

 ber of a parasitic family of plants, which have already 

 been described and figured at page 1 23, in reference to 

 the clover crop, this species being distinguished from the 



1 Annales de VAgri. Fran$aise, Mars, 1853. 



