132 FLAX, HEMP, AND OTHER FIBER PLANTS 



nitrogenous matter and fat to the animals. The main 



use of linseed oil is for mixing paints. 



The fiber. - - The flax fiber is separated from the 



woody part of the stems by soaking the straw in water 



for one or two 

 weeks, or until the 

 stems are soft. 

 This softening of 

 the straw by mois- 

 ture is called ret- 

 ting. When the 

 retting process is 

 complete, the straw 

 is taken from the 

 water and spread 

 out to dry, after 

 which it is put 

 through machines 

 which break the 

 stems and separate 

 the fibers. 

 Where grown. 



~ FlaX IS g r Wn 



mainly in the 



Northwestern states. North Dakota, South Dakota, 

 Minnesota, and Montana are the leading states in flax 

 production. In the states named it is often raised as 

 the first crop on plowed sod land. 

 Hemp yields a soft fiber from the inner bark of the 



HEMP 



