FLAX-STEM ANATOMY IN RELATION TO RETTING. 15 
renchyma, and very little other than the fiber bundles and the 
epidermis remains. The tissue near the leaf scar has been de- 
stroyed and the leaf scar partly disintegrated, exposing the bun- 
dle traces. 
Almost retted. 
_ (Fiber fromm portion |ifh 17 
of asingle stem), 
~\i i 
Partly retted. : | 
iil Piece of unretted cortex. 
E BD / fi 
4 =2cm. 
Fie. 10—Leaf scars in retting flax. On the left a section of unretted flax cortex is 
_ Spread out flat to show the distribution of the leaf scars. In the center is shown a 
piece of a partly retted flax stem and on the right a piece of almost retted cortex. 
Note that the broad places in the fiber center about the leaf scar. 
The study so far indicates that no dependence can be placed upon 
the time of sinking of the straw or the external appearance of the 
stem as to color or sliminess and that all but three changes that 
