226 THE PROCESS OF HECKLING. 
from sinking too deeply among the teeth. By this operation, 
the Flax is divided into two parts ; viz., the short fibres forming 
tow, which remains between the points of the heckle, and is 
from time to time removed; and the long fibres, called line, 
which remains in the hand of the heckler. One half of the 
length of the strick being properly heckled, the other half is 
turned round and prepared in a similar way. The process is 
then repeated upon the fine heckle, and continued until the 
required fibre is produced. It is calculated that 100 pounds 
of well-cleaned Flax will yield from forty-five to sixty pounds of 
line ; the remainder consisting of tow, boony particles, and 
dust. Considerable force and dexterity are required to heckle 
well, for in the hands of an unskilful operative, the best Flax, 
instead of being separated into fine, delicate, parallel lines, will 
nearly all be converted into tow, which is much less valuable 
than line; but a good heckler throws the Flax more or less 
deep among the teeth, according to circumstances, feeling the 
amount of resistance required, and drawing it with the proper 
degree of force and velocity. 
“To assist the heckler in splitting the filaments, the Flax is 
sometimes, between the first and second heckling, folded up 
into a bundle, and beaten upon a block with a wooden mallet, 
after which it is well rubbed with the hands., A similar object 
is gained by bruising it upon a smooth board with a stiff 
brush, and also by boiling it with potash ley. 
“ Machines have been contrived for the purpose of superseding 
heckling by hand, and in all of them the Flax is not drawn 
through them as in working by hand; but, on the contrary, 
the sharp points or heckles are moved through the Flax, 
properly secured.” 
It has been already mentioned, that applications had been 
made, both from Sindh and from the Punjab, for some 
heckles. A few of them have been forwarded by the overland 
route, also breaks and scutchers, of the excellent manufacture of 
Mr. Perry, of Hunslet Old Mill, Leeds. 
In connection with the foregoing process of heckling, may 
be mentioned that of dividing the Flax into lengths, as 
Mr. Tomlinson saw practised in the extensive mills of Messrs. 
Marshall, of Leeds. ‘“ The length of the Flax varies from twenty- 
six to thirty, or thirty-six inches; the part nearest the root is 
