42 
T. TADOKORO. 
1. The Loss of Weight. 
The loss of weight in the stem daring retting depends upon the retting 
methods and the retting grade which is again governed by the temperature 
and change of water. 
In Europe !) the loss of weight is calculated as about 30% of the original 
weight in dew retting, about 25% in water retting and 40-50% in mud 
retting. 
In United States, 1 2 ) it is estimated at about 18-18.5% in common 
water retting, while in double retting about 14.5-15.5% in the first watering 
and about 8.8-9. 0 % in the second watering. 
In Hokkaido, it is usually assumed to be about 19-20% of the original 
■stem. 
Results of our experiments on this point are shown in the following table. 
Table 
Total loss. 
Eeal loss. 
Difference. 
Expt. 
in % of 
air dry stem. 
in % of 
dry matter. 
in % of 
dry matter. 
in % of 
dry matter. 
I 
18.56 
19.15 
14.95 
4.2 
II : 
17.51 
18.79 
14.89 
3.9 
On the first experiment, we used air dry stem, produced in Hokkaido in 
the year of 1908 and 1909 and retted in canal water at 10° -21° C. for 9 days, 
changing the water twice, and on the second experiment for 8 days. For the 
comparison, we determined what we call here “ real loss ” which is the loss of 
weight suffered by the stem proper, or the stem free from the roots, terminal 
■ends and remaining leaves. It is to be noticed that in common retting, the 
1) — E. Kuhnert. Der Flachs, seine Kultur u. Verarbeitung, pp. 87-119. 
2) — Charles Kichards Dodge. A report on flax culture for seed and fiber in Europe 
sind America, pp. 68-72. 
