Report on the Agriculture of Belgium. 
47 
as to preserve tlic whiteness of tlic filament. In the environs of Courtrai it is 
p:encr,illy kejit for two or three years previously to heiiig steeped, which is 
done cither horizontally or vertically ; flax steeped horizontally is not so white, 
but, on the other hand, is softer than the other, the water making its way 
throui;h it much less rapidly, and by its putrefaction producing; the softness. 
The bundles of flax are tied with osier twigs, fastened to stakes embedded 
in the river, and kept stationary by means of cords fastened to posts on the 
banks of the river. 
Flax that is to be steeped vertically is either fastened to poles and plunged 
under water, or else placed in cages or frames, containing 150 bundles, and 
lined with straw ; the cage once filled, and the top of it covered with three 
or four centimetres of straw, it is fastened by cords to posts, and let down 
info the river. 
At the end of a few days fermentation sets in, and the cage becomes 
heavier; care must be taken not to disturb its equilibrium. 
'This process generally requires from seven to ten days, the time varying 
according to the season and temperature ; thus, in May, it requires between 
nine and ten days, in August seven days, and in October twelve days. 
The steeping of a hectare of flax, including what is called the "arrifere 
rouissage," costs 150 francs 50 centimes. 
This process generally gives a coarse filament, but strong and of a good 
colour, and in quality inferior to that produced by the steeping in stagnant 
pools. The flax does not begin to soften for nine or ten months after the 
operation of steeping. 
The "arriere rouissage" consists in stacking the bundles after they have 
been taken out of the steeping-eages, and are free from water. Once the flax 
is well dried, it is again spread over a field to whiten. 
The " rouissage manufacturier," or American process, is already well known 
ia Ireland, under the name of " Schenk's patent system for steeping flax ; " it 
would be therefore superfluous to describe it. 
6. Colza. — This crop is rarely grown on a sugar-beet farm ; 
indeed, we did not meet with a single instance. As a rule it is taken 
between two or more grain crops, either instead of flax, or as part 
of a long rotation of which flax is one course, or as part of the 
root-course. There are comparatively few farms in Belgium on 
which no " industrial crop " is grown. The crops which come 
under that title are flax, hemp, colza, tobacco, and sugar-beet. 
Tobacco is grown only to a small extent, and generally on small 
farms ; colza and sugar-beet we never found together, but two out 
of the remaining three are often grown on the same farm — usually 
flax and hemp, or flax and colza. If clover is sown with flax, the 
colza will generally be succeeded by turnips as a catch crop ; but 
if carrots are sown with flax, clover is sown amongst the colza- 
plants. The former is the usual practice on loamy soils, 'and the 
latter on the sandy land. 
The rape is sown in seed-beds in July or August, and the 
plants are pricked out, about 7 or 8 inches apart, in September 
or October, the land having been well manured in the autumn. 
The young plants generally receive a dressing of liquid manure, 
except in severe seasons, and they are protected against frost to a 
certain extent, either by earthing up, or, if clover is to be sown, 
