( U7 ) 



That which is intended for the fined fort of 

 line muft be immerfed in water and fwingled* 

 If the crop be not over (Irong, it will be of nnoft 

 value if it (land for feed j but then the line wil! 

 be black, and not fit for fine linen* A good 

 clay or loanny foil generally produces the bed 

 crop of flax. 



When you put the line in the pits, let them 

 be filled with foft (landing water. It is a very 

 good method, after the line is in the water, to 

 cover it with fods ; for by that means it will 

 rate fooner, and much more even : and if it is 

 trodden hard down, it will be the better for it. 

 To know when the line is fir to be taken 

 out of the pits, you muft take foir.e up, and if 

 the bafs divide from the bunn (as it is called) 

 it is then ready, and Ihould be immediately ta- 

 ken out. If it remains in the water longer than 

 necelTary, it rots and is totally fpoiled. When 

 taken out, it muft be laid thin upon the grafs^ 

 and fpread to be dried : when dry, tie it up in 

 Iheafs and houfe it. Then brack it w'.th a pair 

 of bracks, fwingle it with a fwinglc-handed 

 ftock, andjuft heckle the top end flightly^ and 

 it is ready for the heckler. The expence at- 

 VoL. IL T tending 



