FLAX. 279 



this kind to store up, the chances of loss are not yet done 

 with, for the seed is apt to be ravaged by the attacks of the 

 beetle, which is found so frequently destructive to the bean 

 seed, and of which a notice, and the best means of pre- 

 venting them destroying the vitality of the seed when 

 sown, will be found in the chapter on the bean crop. 



DIVISION THIRD. 



FLAX. 



80. OP what are termed the "industrial" or the "special" 

 crops, as flax, hemp, and the oleaginous plants, space only 

 permits us to treat of the first of these ; and which, when 

 we view it as the source of one of our important textile 

 fibres, is certainly the most important of them. Of our 

 industrial farm crops, flax possesses high claims to a great 

 antiquity, taking precedence of all other crops of this class. 

 Frequent mention is made of it in Holy writ, and abundant 

 allusion is made to it in the writings of profane authors. 

 It formed one of the principal crops, if not the principal 

 of ancient Egypt; the crop was also well known amongst 

 the Greeks and Eomans ; and amongst writers of the latter 

 people, Pliny gives considerable space to a minute detail 

 of the mode of cultivating it. Flax in this country was 

 cultivated from a very early period, and for long was one 

 of the most important crops we possessed. 



81. The botanical order to which flax belongs is linece, 

 having three genera, and these having ninety species ; of 

 these the only one cultivated is linum usitatissimum, or 

 common flax. The plant is annual, grows to a height of 

 from 18 to 24 inches, and bears numerous flowers of a 

 beautiful pale delicate blue. The seed pods which suc- 

 ceed the flowers are of five cells, each of which contains 

 one seed. This, of a long flattish shape, and of a dark 

 brown colour with shining surface, contains oil which is 



