THE PRODUCTION OF FLAX 243 



which are usually light brown in color; they are flattened 

 and have a smooth, shining or polished surface. The length 

 of the seeds is % mc h or slightly less. 



The stems of flax are made up of three layers, the bark, 

 the wood, and the pith. The bark is composed of several 

 layers, of which the most important from an economic point 

 of view is the bast or fiber cells. These cells are only about 

 one-tenth to one-sixth of an inch long, but are so firmly 

 fastened together that fibers of the entire length of the straw 

 may be removed. The process of separating these fibers 

 from the other portions of the stem is described elsewhere. 

 (Sec. 306). 



IMPORTANCE OF THE CROP 



299. World Production. There are few plants which 

 are put to a greater variety of uses than flax. The fiber from 

 the stem is used in the manufacture of many articles, from 

 the finest linen cloth to coarse twine and bagging. The oil 

 from the seeds is used in the manufacture of paint, varnishes, 

 and other articles; the grain from which the oil has been 

 removed is fed to stock. The mucilage-like substance which 

 exudes from the seedcoat when the grain is dampened is made 

 use of to some extent in medicine, in the making of poultices 

 and for other purposes. The greater portion of the flax 

 which is grown in this country is producecj for the seed, 

 though the straw is used to some extent in the manufacture 

 of twine, bagging, and upholstered articles. 



Fiber flax is produced largely in Russia and in Austria- 

 Hungary, Russia furnishing nearly four-fifths of the world's 

 supply of about 1,730,000,000 pounds annually. Argentina 

 is now the leading country in the production of seed flax, 

 the United States and Russia ranking next in importance. 



