422 On the Modes of Culture and Preparation of Flax, 
the peasants, who convey it to the country in barrels, where it 
is stored in brick tanks constructed for the purpose. Stimu- 
lating artificial manures are occasionally used, but it is con- 
sidered injurious to the quality of the fibre to apply manures of 
this description to flax. When the crop has sufficiently ma- 
tured, it is pulled with extreme care. That from which the 
finest quality is obtained is not allowed to remain till the seed 
has matured, so as to be fit for sowing purposes. When the 
flax is removed from the soil it is placed in stocks (Fig. 3), 
Fig. 3.— J. Belgian Stool of Flax. 
without being tied in beets or sheaves, and remains till dry 
enough to be tied in beets, which are built in the field, in what 
are called hedges (Fig. 4), where it remains till it is sufficiently 
Fig. 4. — A Belgian Hedge of Flax, 
dry to be stacked or stored in barns, to be retted the following 
summer. The foregoing observations regarding the handling 
of the flax-straw after being pulled apply to the neighbourhood 
of Courtrai, which is specially famed for the superior quality of 
its flax, where the retting process is carried on in a manner 
peculiar to the district, in the river Lys. The excellence of the 
