202 SCHENCK’S PROCESS FOR PREPARING FLAX. 
ninety-six hours for the coarse qualities; and a more uniform 
fibre is, moreover, produced. 
A disadvantage of this process, in comparison with some 
others, is that, during the process of fermentation, the same 
kind of gaseous exhalations are given off as in the ordinary 
method. These gases have been stated “by chemists to 
consist chiefly of carbonic acid and hydrogen, in nearly equal 
parts.’ Dr. Hodges has clearly shown that the fermentation 
is of a peculiar character, traces only of acetic acid being found, 
while butyric acid is generated in large quantities. 
Other objections have been stated—such as that the fibre 
was weakened when over-heated; and another, that a most 
offensive matter adhered to the straw, and that, in the process 
of scutching, the scutchers could not bear the smell of the 
irritant dust which flew off. With regard to other objections 
—such as that the yield of fibre would be less, that it would 
be weakened, and that the linen made from it would not bleach 
properly—a Committee of the Royal Irish Flax Improvement 
Society, after carefully conducted experiments, reported, first, 
that the uniformity of temperature had the effect of increasing 
the yield of fibre. With regard to the weakening of the fibre, 
the Committee ascertained that the Flax steeped in the ordi- 
nary way spun to 96 lea yarn, and that by Schenck’s system 
to 101 lea yarn. In the second, the cold-steeped gave 60 lea 
and the hot-steeped 70. The third objection was submitted to 
an extensive bleaching firm, whose evidence in favour of the 
hot-water process was very decided. The heated water of the 
ordinary Indian tulaos, at some seasons of the year, will be 
sufficient for this purpose, and will not be injurious to the fibre, 
if it is otherwise good. The process only requires to be more 
narrowly watched than in Europe. 
But we observe in the ‘Journ. of the Chemico-Agricul. 
Society of Ulster,’ for January, 1858, it said, that—‘In 
Treland, great expectations were entertained that by the plans 
for this purpose, which were introduced by the late Mr. 
Schenck, the preparation of Flax for the spinner would be 
made entirely a factory operation.” “ In Ireland, however, the 
establishments erected under Schenck’s patent, have not, 
generally, given satisfaction.” ‘In England and Scotland, we 
are aware that the system has been more successfully carried 
