think, we may be certain of, that, if the Egyptians watered their flax in our common manner, they undoubtedly 
watered it in very warm water, from the great heat of their climate, which probably might make them neglect to 
think of water heated by any other means than that of the fun. A good general pra&ice can only be eftabliShed 
'upon repeated trials ; but, I am perfuaded, many lofe half the value of their crop by forne of the prefent 
methods of watering it. Though one experiment may fail, another with a little variation may fucceed, and the 
importance of the objeci defired to be obtained will juftify a good degree of perfeverance in the profecution of the 
means. In this view, as the Chinefe thread is faid to be very ftrong, it would be worth while to be acquainted 
with the practice of that diftant nation in regard to the rearing and manufadturing of flax, as well as with the 
methods ufed by the Flemings and the Dutch. 
Boiling water perhaps might at once clear the new flax from many impurities, which, when not removed till 
'fpun into yarn, are then removed with difficulty, and lofs of fubftance to the yam. Why Should not the longitu- 
dinal fibres of the flax, before they be fpun into yarn, be made not only as fine but as clean as polfible ? Upon the 
new fyftem propoled, the adi of bleaching would begin immediately after the rippling of the flax ; and a little done 
then might fave much of what is generally done after the Spinning and weaving. To fpin dirty flax, with a view 
of cleaning it afterwards, appears to be the fame impropriety as though we were to referve part of the dreffing given 
to leather till after it is made into a glove. 
Should the plunging the flax into the boiling water not fuffice to make the boon brittle enough, as I am inclined 
to think it would not, then the common watering plight be added ; but, in this cafe, probably half the time ufually 
given to the watering would fuffice, and the flax might then he laid in clear rivulets, without any apprehenfions of 
its infedting the water and poifotiing the filh, or of being difcoloured itfelf; for the boiling water into which it had 
been previoufly put would have extradted all the poiionous vegetative ftp, which, 1 prelume, is what chiefly 
dilcolours the flax, or kills the fiffi. 
On the fuppofition that boiling water, in the preparation of flax, may be found to be advantageous and profitable, 
I can recollect at prefent but one objedtion againft it being generally adopted. Every flax^grower, it may be faid, 
could not be expedited to have conveniencies for boiling water fufficient for the purpofe, the confumption of water 
would be great, and fome additional expence would be incurred. In anfwer to this I ffiall only obferve, that I 
prefume any additional expence would be more than reimburfed by the better marketable price of the flax ; for 
otherwjfe any new improvement, if it will not quit coft, mu ft be dropped, were it even the Searching after gold. In 
a large cauldron a great deal of flax might be dipped in the lame water, and the confumption perhaps would not be 
more than a quart to each fheaf : even a large houShold pot would be capable of containing one ffieaf after another ; 
and I believe the whole objedtion would be obviated, were the pradtire to prevail with us, as in Flanders and 
Holland, that the flax-grower and the flax-drefl'er Should be two diftindt profefiions. 
I (hall conclude with recommending to thofe who are inclined to make experiments, not to be difeouraged by the 
failure of one or two trials. Perhaps the flax, inftead of being juft plunged into the fealding water, ought to be 
kept in it five minutes; perhaps a quarter of an hour; perhaps a whole hour. Should five minutes, or a quarter 
of an hour, or an hour, not be fufficient to make the boon and harle eafily Separate, it might perhaps be found 
expedient to boil the flax for more than an hour ; and fuch boiling, when in this ftate, might in return fave feveral 
hours boiling in the article of bleaching. It is not, I think, at all probable, that the boiling of the flax with the 
boon in it would prejudice the harle ; for, in the courfe of its future exifteijce, it is made to be expofed twenty or 
forty times to this boiling trial, and, if not detrimental in the one cafe, it is to be prelumed it would not be 
detrimental in the other. Perhaps after the boiling it would be proper to pile up the flax in one heap for a whale 
day, or for half a day, to occafion fome fermentation, or perhaps, immediately after the boiling, it might be proper 
to waffi it in cold water. The great object, when the flax is pulled, is to get the harle from the boon with as little 
lofs and damage as poffible ; and if this is accomplished in a more complete manner than ufual, considerable labour 
and expence will be Saved in the future manufacturing of the flax. On this accqunt, 1 think, much more would 
be gained than loft, were the two or three laft inches of the roots of the flax to be chopped off, or clipped oft, 
previous to its being either watered or boiled. 
The following precaution is neceflary to be obferved, that the flax Should never be Spread out to drv at a feafoti 
when it may be in danger of being expofed to the froft. 
