On the Cultivation of Flax. 



457 



If the quantity of flax be considerable, instead of tlie hand- 

 break, recourse may be had to the breaking-machine, which con- 

 sists of four or six j)alrs of deeply fluted rollers, fixed horizontally 

 in a frame, and worked similarly to a thrashing-machine. The 

 rollers may be formed either of wood or iron, but the latter 

 is decidedly preferable. By this instrument, breaking is very ra- 

 pidly performed ; and wherever there are horse-works, or steam 

 or water power on a farm, the break (being portable) may be 

 attached to the gearing, and the whole process will be speedily 

 and cheaply accomplished. A few women, or a few boys and 

 girls, will be required to hand the bundles to the man attending 

 the break, and to receive them after they are passed through. 

 The flax must be placed straight and regular in the break, and 

 order and promptitude should be observed throughout the whole 

 process. 



Scutching or Sicingling — is the act of clearing the fibre from the 

 woody part of the stalk after it has been bruised and loosened by 

 the break. This is the last step in the process of preparation, 

 and the value of the flax will depend, in no inconsiderable de- 

 gree, upon the manner in which it is performed. If the flax has 

 been well grown, the fibre will be long and even; if it has been 

 well watered and well grassed, it will be of a clear pale yellow 

 colour; if well scutched, it will be silky in texture, and per- 

 fectly cleared from every portion of the stalk and other rubbish, 

 the presence of which would detract from its value. 



On the Continent, scutching is invariably performed by hand ; 

 but in Ireland, the growers, after having steeped their flax at 

 home, often send it to some scutching-mill to be dressed. In the 

 north of Ireland there are several of these mills driven by water, 

 and in the south mills are being erected through the intervention 

 of the Flax Improvement Society ; but hand-scutching causes less 

 waste, and if well performed cleanses the fibre more effectually. 



In hand-scutching, the only apparatus required is a sv.ingle or 

 scutching-tool made of some tough wood, a small iron scraper, 

 and a board 4 feet long fixed upright in a stand, having a slit or 

 opening on one side into which the scutcher slips the flax, 

 grasping it firmly with his left hand, whilst with the swingle held 

 in the right he quickly and sharply strikes it downwards, turning 

 and working it at the same time until it is soft and silky, and 

 entirely freed from the stalks and other impurities. Hand- 

 scutching affords a good deal of employment, and is performed 

 with great rapidity by persons accustomed to the work, which, 

 like every other branch of flax-managem.ent, is easily learnt, 

 quickness and attention being the chief requisites. 



Several kinds of scutchlng-mills have been invented, and they 



