428 On the Modes of Culture and Preparation of Flax, 
the yarn boiling' satisfactorily, and some were sceptical that the 
linen produced from flax so treated would bleach satisfactorily. 
These contingencies have, however, in practice disappeared. 
The flax was spun to fine numbers ; the yarn was boiled, then 
converted into linen which bleached to perfection. The chief 
advantages resulting from a successful artificial mode of retting 
flax being brought into operation would be a concentration of 
skill, and the process being pursued continuously during the 
entire year. 
The experiments made were numerous and satisfactory, but 
percentage results were not noted in every instance. The 
following is an average of the yields of four experiments : — 
Average yield of retted Straw from dried Straw .. 7G • 29 per cent. 
„ Fibre „ retted „ 23 '86 „ 
„ Fibre „ dried „ ,. 18-18 „ 
Average time occupied in retting, about 8 days. 
„ Maximum temperature 75 '01° 
„ Minimum „ 72-16° 
In the first experiments the temperature of the chamber and 
that of the vat varied considerably, as, the operation being new, 
complete command was not at first obtained over the heating 
medium ; but in subsequent experiments almost absolute uni- 
formity between the heat of the chamber and that of the vat was 
produced ; sometimes for days it would not vary more than a 
degree or two. 
There are obstacles in the way of adopting this system in a 
variable climate, and one is the uncertainty of drying the flax 
in the field after being pulled, and preserving a uniform colour ; 
but this could only be tested practically. 
The theory of the process has been verified in every par- 
ticular, but the question yet remains to be solved, would it as 
an enterprise prove a success? 
Flax is cultivated in almost every country in the world ; in 
some instances mainly for its seed, which is crushed to make 
oil, and the cake is used for feeding cattle. What is grown 
in Europe is principally for fibre, the linen industry being an 
important occupation ; and although now much more exten- 
sively manufactured by machinery, it still forms a prominent 
feature among the rural population in Continental countries. 
In Ireland, however, which Is the chief seat of the linen trade, 
the spinning-wheel has entiiely disappeared, and the spinning 
of yarns is done in large mills situated principally in, or in the 
neighbourhood of, towns. The following statement is inserted 
to give some idea of the production of flax in European 
countries : — 
