Jieporl on the Ar/ricuUure of Beljium. 
43 
acre is often enormous, in some cases as much as 2 cwt. as well 
as 10 lbs. of red clover, the reason boinf; that with thin sowing- 
the straw is coarse and branched, although the produce of seed (a 
secondary consideration) is greater. The seeds are harrowed in 
lightly, to the depth of about an inch, and the land is again 
thoroughly rolled. The after preparation consists of repeated 
hand-weeding and a hoeing. About the end of June the flax is 
reaped by pulling it up by the roots, and the remaining clover 
gets well grown by the end of the year, so much so that it is not 
unusual to get a mowing the same autumn. Pulling, sheafing, 
drying, and stacking, will cost, in the Courtrai district, about 
25s. per acre. An average crop will yield about 5 tons of straw 
and between 3 and 4 cwt. of seed.* 
The straw is bought by merchants or factors immediately after 
harvest, and frequently paid for on the spot, the farmer contract- 
ing to deliver it within a specified time on the drying-ground on 
the banks of the Lys, at Courtrai. The times of payment and 
of delivery are matters of arrangement, and depend upon the 
greater or less confidence existing between buyer and seller more 
than upon any other circumstance. On both banks of the Lys, 
near Courtrai, the land is occupied by extensive drying-grounds, 
and the steeping and drying of flax form of themselves a very 
important industry, giving employment to a large number of 
people. Tlie land is rented by the principals of these establish- 
ments, and they find labour and all means and appliances to steep 
and dry the flax at certain fixed prices. 
Flax is generally steeped in the Lys in crates holding from 
25 to 30 cwt. each, according to the length of the staple. The 
steeping season is from Maj' to October, but varies a little with 
the season ; and it is not usual to steep the straw the same year as 
it is harvested. The crates are first lined with clean v/heat-straw, 
then sheaves of flax are placed two together, head to tail, bound 
firmly together, and placed in the crate until it is full, when the 
flax is covered by wheat-straw and the crate is sunk in the river 
by means of stones. It remains in the water from eight days to 
a fortnight, according to the temperature ; and the proof of the 
steeper's mastery of his art lies in the success with which he 
judges when the flax should be taken out. The crate being got 
on land, each sheaf is separated from its fellow, its base is spread 
out to the utmost, a wisp of straw being tied round its head, and 
thus it is left to dry. The outside dries first, and the sheaf is 
then turned inside out until it is thoroughly dry all through. 
This is the first operation, and the charge made is 4 francs per 
* For further details as to the culture and harvesting of flax, see Jlr. Scott Burn's 
Essay in ' Quarterly Journal of Agriculture,' vol. xxii. pp. 268, 200. 
