136 PRODUCTS OF THE FLAX PLANT. 
of the flax and the barley being smitten by the plague of hail 
in Egypt, and in ‘Joshua’ of the spies, who had- been sent to 
report on the state of Jericho, being hid with stalks of flax. 
From many other passages, we know that the spinning and 
weaving of Flax were common occupations of the people in 
Palestine. Subsequently, it was much cultivated both by Greeks 
and Romans. In India, Flax has also heen cultivated from very 
early times, but strange to say, for its seed only, and not on 
account of the fibre; which everywhere else is the principal 
object of attention. This is probably owing to India possessing, 
us one of its indigenous products, the Cotton plant, which re- 
quires only the bursting of its fruit to display an elegant and 
easily spun material, which can be obtained from the Flax only 
after considerable labour. 
We have lately seen how important the Cocoa-nut Palm, one 
of the princes of the vegetable kingdom, is, not only to the 
countries where it is produced, but also to those into which its 
products are introduced. The Flax plant, on the contrary, is 
one of the humblest of those which are cultivated, and yet it is 
hardly less important, though not particularly useful as an 
article of diet. Its slender stem, narrow leaves, and beautiful 
blue flowers, give it an elegant appearance. Its smooth and 
shining seeds have their external coating formed of much con- 
densed mucilage, while the white kernel is gorged with oil, 
especially valued for its drying properties; and the refuse or 
oil-cake affords a nutritious diet for cattle. The fibre or Flax 
separated from the stem may be made use of for cordage, for 
coarse fabrics, or for the finest cambrics and lawns. Hence it 
is a principal object of attention in Russia and Poland, a highly 
successful culture in Belgium, carried on also in Germany, 
France, and Italy, the object of frequent legislative enactment 
in England, and of recent most successful cultivation in Ireland. 
Hence, also, it was re-established by the late Pasha in Egypt. 
It has been frequently recommended for culture in India on 
account of its fibre, as it already is in almost every part of that 
country for its seed. 
Upon consideration, it will no doubt appear remarkable that 
this small annual plant should be profitably cultivated over so 
great an extent of the globe, and in apparently so great a 
diversity of climate. But the fact is that the winters of these 
