104 



MANAGEMENT OF FLAX. 



on an average stock, across (horizontally), and when the seeds 

 have changed from the white milky substance, which they first 

 show, to a greenish colour, pretty firm, then is the time to pull. 

 The old prejudice, in favour of much ripening, is most inju- 

 rious, even as regards quantity ; and the usual test of the stalk 

 stripping at the root and turning yellow, should not be de- 

 pended on. "Where there is one man that pulls too green, five 

 hundred over-ripen. 



^' Pulling. — I use the Dutch method, say, catching the flax 

 close below the bolls ; this allows the shortest of the flax to 

 escape. With next handful, the puller draws the short flax, 

 and so keeps the short and the long each by itself, to be steeped 

 in separate ponds. It is most essential to keep the flax even 

 at the root end, and this cannot be done without time and care ; 

 but it can be done, and should always be done. The beets 

 should be small, evenly sized, straight, and even, and should 

 never be put up in stocks or windrows, but taken to the pond 

 the day they are pulled, or the day after, at longest, especially 

 in bright weather ; for the discoloration produced by the sun 

 on green flax will never be removed till it goes to the bleacher, 

 and will give him some trouble also. 



Steeping. — Flax is subject to injury from neglect, in every 

 process, but in this especially. The water brought to the pond 

 should be pure from all mineral substances, clean and clear. 

 The water of large rivers is generally to be preferred, but 

 spriTig water, which has run some hundred yards, becomes soft, 

 and will have deposited any mineral impurities it contained. 

 Immediately from the spring it seldom does well. If the 

 water be good and soft, it is injurious to allow it to stagnate in 

 the pond before steeping. I put in two layers, each somewhat 

 sloped with the root end of each downwards : one layer is said 

 to be safer, and perhaps is so, though I have tried both, and 

 seen no difference. It should be placed rather loose than 

 crowded in the pond, and laid carefully, straight and regular. 

 Having an abundant supply of water, I do not let it into the 

 pond till the first layer is in. I cover with moss sods (from 



