288 
In from eight to twelve hours the process is complete. The 
plant, thus deprived of its soluble matter, is passed through 
and between heavy rollers that at once detach the epider- 
mis, and separate the valuable fibre from the woody mate- 
rial, discharging the fluid in the saturated straw, which thus 
wetted yields the separation of the fibres readily in the direc- 
tion of their length by the use of the rollers. The straw 
thus mashed, macerated, and split up, is easily dried, and in 
a few hours is ready for the mechanical operations. It will 
thus at once be seen that mechanical skill and chemical 
principles are at work with efficient power. The flax, it 
ought to be stated, is first crushed by passing the bundles 
of flax between iron cylinders, to separate the seed bolls. 
The plant is thus crushed open, and admits in the iron box 
the pure solvent distilled water, which dissolves out all the 
soluble portions. Thus the flax differs materially from all those 
processes which involve time and air, by being a process of 
disintegration, and not of decay and fermentation. Hence 
we are prepared to find that the matter exhausted is sweet, 
and can be used for feeding purposes. 
When first drawn, the more concentrated fluid has the 
colour of porter, but has a thicker and more glutinous body, 
and while its odour and taste are peculiar, it is not disagree- 
able. In reply to the doubts and questions of its fattening 
power, and being acceptable, the prompt answer was, " let 
the pigs decide that point !" It is found that the fluid can be 
used as a feeding agent in the farmsteads, with turnips and 
other food. 
The flax thus rapidly prepared has a fine complexion, and 
a peculiar odour, which with other points enables the 
practised man to detect the presence of flax prepared by 
Watts' patent by every sense of sight, and touch, and odour. 
Into the working details I do not enter : it is to the prin- 
ciples involved, and the results obtained, that I would ask 
