Agricultural and Tccluiical. 



201 



great saving of time as compared with either the cold or hot 

 process of steeping, and of being carried on without its unplea- 

 sant accompaniments. From 12 to 24 hours are now sufficient, 

 instead of the 3 or 4 days by the hot-water steep, and the 2 to 3 

 weeks by the ordinary processes. The practice, however, is not 

 likely to gain ground, as the ingredients are expensive, a portion 

 of the products rendered useless, and the fibre liable to be injured 

 unless proper care be taken. 



We now come to the third division of the processes due to 

 chemical agency, where simple solvents, as water, either heated 

 or in the shape of steam, is alone made use of. This is a very 

 important advance upon any of the old methods, — the tedious- 

 ness and irregularity of the steeping process, whether cold or 

 hot, with its noisome accompaniments are avoided, — no expensive 

 chemicals are required, — the chance of injury to the fibre is 

 lessened, — and the whole of the products of the operation are 

 rendered valuable to the manufacturer. This method of treating 

 flax was patented by Watts in the middle of last year, and v/as 

 shortly afterwards carried into operation on a large scale at 

 Belfast. Its simplicity and effectiveness were speedily recog- 

 nised ; and already several other establishments are in progress 

 in different parts of the country. The whole arrangements 

 required are inexpensive and occupy but little space. The straw 

 is placed in a steam-tight chamber (No. 2), of a suitable size 

 and shape, the top being formed by an iron tank (No. 3) con- 

 taining cold water, and the lower end having a perforated false 

 bottom {c), at about 12 inches from the other. Steam at a low 



1. Steam lioiler. 



2. Steaming' chamher. 



3. Water-tank (condenser). 



a. Steam-pipe. 



h. Iron spikes attached to bottom of ts 



c. False bottom to steani chambtr. 



d. Discharge pipe. 



