as practised in Ireland and on the Continent. 
427 
was also very slightly influenced. To exemplify this more 
clearly, an excess of steam was accidently admitted, and the 
temperature of the chamber rose from 80° to 99°, and remained 
at this point for some time, but the vat did not go beyond 80°, 
and the steam was then cut off. On another occasion the steam 
was cut off entirely, and continued so during twenty-four hours, 
and the temperature of the chamber fell from 75° to 63° during 
the night, whereas the vat only fell from 70° to 69° during the 
same time. These particulars are dwelt upon at length, as on 
this fact depends the important feature of the system, viz., the 
protection of the flax-straw during the retting process from 
undue heat, which would endanger the quality of the fibre, or 
an undue chill, which would check the fermentation. The 
fermentation is in full vigour in twenty-four hours after the 
commencement of the process, and continues uniformly for 
some days, when it gradually subsides as the operation 
approaches completion. 
The superiority claimed for this method of retting flax over 
what is known as the " hot-water steeping " is uniformity of 
temperature, and the experiments made demonstrate that an 
absolute control can be exercised over the means adopted to 
produce the artificial climate in the chamber in which the vat 
containing the flax is situated. One of Six's combined maxi- 
mum and minimum thermometers was placed in the chamber, 
and one immersed in the vat, so that the relative temperatures 
could at any time be observed. The temperature at which the 
experiments were made varied from 72° to 80°, and the retting 
process occupied from six to ten days. It may be observed, 
however, that hastening the process by means of raising the 
temperature has the tendency of reducing the strength of the 
fibre. 
The flax was washed after leaving the vat, and part of it 
passed through iron rollers previous to being dried. To detail 
all the particulars would occupy too much space, but these 
experiments indicated that there is much yet to be ascertained 
before the handling of flax will have obtained that degree of per- 
fection which it should possess when the retting has been reduced 
to a manufacturing process. During the prosecution of some of 
these experiments, the ground was covered with snow and the 
temperature outside below freezing-point. The results under 
such circumstances were equally as satisfactory as when the 
surrounding atmosphere was of a more genial warmth ; in fact, 
this method of retting is an accomplished success, and the flax 
produced has proved to be of superior quality and eminently 
suitable for spinning purposes. Doubts were expressed as to 
