THE FIBER CROPS 



353 



namely, cold water retting and dew retting, the latter 

 being the one most commonly used. In dew retting 

 the straw is spread out on the ground and exposed to 

 the weather for several weeks. Next it is collected 

 and subjected to the 

 " breaking " process, 

 which is the removing 

 of the fiber from the 

 wood. The fiber thus 

 removed is freed from 

 the rest of the bark 

 and adherent parts of 

 the wood by " scutch- 

 ing " or beating with 

 paddles. The final 

 process is the "hack- 

 ling" or combing, 

 which separates the 

 fibers into the " flax 

 line" which is the long 

 and valuable fiber, and 

 the " tow," the short 

 tangled fibers used in 

 the weaving of coarse 

 linen. The fiber is then packed in bales, in which shape 

 it goes to the mill. 



Fabrics made from flax are characterized by snowy 

 whiteness, when freed from impurities, a luster similar to 

 that of silk, and great strength or tenacity. As has been 

 mentioned before, linen is one of the oldest textiles of which 

 we know, having been used by the ancient Egyptians for 

 the wrappings of mummies and for the making of priests' 

 garments. Linen of good quality becomes more beautiful 



2a 



Fig. 125. — A bundle of flax and types of 

 fiber. 



