UTILIZATION OF AMERICAN FLAX STRAW. 9 
woody portion partly to very fine shives and. partly to the ultimate 
wood cells. 
The measurements shown in Table IV give an idea of the 
kinds and relative sizes of the various cellular elements of which 
flax pulp is composed. The pulp in this case was obtained by the 
soda process, on account of the more complete separation of the cells 
in the pulp (fig. 2). 
Fig. 2. — Microphotograph of pulp from flax straw before the smaller cells are removed. 
(Magnified 103 diameters.) 
Table IV. — Dimensions of the cells of flax pulp. 
Kind of cells. 
Pith cells (from the central portion of the 
stalk) 
Epidermal cells 
Short parenchyma cells 
Long parenchyma cells 
Spiral, pitted, and other vessels 
T . . r ood fibers (from the woody portion of the 
stalk) 
Bast fibers (the long fiber of the plant, which 
is of value to the paper maker) 
Dimensions (millimeters). 
Length. 
Maxi- 
mum. 
0.14 
.11 
.13 
.40 
C) 
.426 
Mini- 
mum. 
0.08 
.07 
.09 
.18 
( x ) 
.16 
Aver- 
0.10 
.08 
.11 
.29 
0) 
.20 
Width. 
Maxi- 
mum. 
0.08 
.03 
.02 
.04 
.02 
.013 
.039 
Mini- 
mum. 
0.06 
.01 
.01 
.02 
.009 
010 
Aver- 
age. 
0.06 
.02 
.02 
.03 
.011 
.011 
■.019 
Ratio 
of 
length 
to 
width. 
1.5 
4.3 
7.2 
9.2 
1 Extending throughout length of plant. 
8957°— Bull. 322—15—2 
