LESSON XXIX 

 FLAX, HEMP, AND OTHER FIBER PLANTS 



The flax plant. All of you have seen linen ; but 

 how many of you have seen the plant from which come 

 the fibers that are woven iiito linen cloth? Do you 

 know that linen and linseed oil are products of the 

 flax plant? The fibers come from the stems, and 

 the oil is pressed from the flax seed. In the days 

 of the pioneers each family grew a patch of flax 

 to furnish the linen fibers which were spun and woven 

 into homemade cloth. 



You have likewise seen twine and rope, made of 

 hemp and other fibers ; but not many of you have 

 seen the plants which furnish these fibers. 



Flax and hemp are important fiber crops, but they 

 are not grown extensively in the United States. In 

 Europe flax is grown mainly for its fiber, but in the 

 United States it is grown chiefly for the oil. As cotton 

 is our most important fiber plant, and also yields oil, 

 so flax is our most important oil plant, and also yields 

 valuable fiber. 



Planting. Flax is an annual plant, always grown 

 from the seeds which are sown broadcast or with a 

 drill, like other small grains. It is planted in the 



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