THE TECHNOLOGIST. [Aug. 1, 18C5. 
24 ON THE CULTIVATION OF 
good order, as clean as it is possible to get it, and free from all kinds of 
weeds. This is just the state you are expected to have it in for a crop 
of flax, when grown by itself. In Ireland, seeding down with ilax is 
often practised , and so it is in this country. 
Having endeavoured to put a few of the most important facts befoie 
.the reader relating to the cultivation of the flax plant, and the mode of 
handling it after it is matured, I will now offer a few suggestions with 
respect to the machinery for scutching and preparing the raw material 
for market. Most of those who have taken an interest in flax matters 
of late years, are aware that the Government authorised me, while in 
Ireland recently, to purchase a number of the best scutching-mills to be 
had, for the purpose of distributing them among the Agricultural 
Societies in both Upper and Lower Canada. Mr. Rowan's mill being a 
portable one, and highly recommended in many parts of Ireland, pre- 
sented itself as likely to produce good results in Canada, the more so as 
it can be used by unskilled labourers, and the price, which is some 
150 dols. each, being quite within the reach of any farmer to have one 
for his own use if he desired it. 
In point of cheapness, efficiency, and economy, this machine sur- 
passes anything that has yet been produced for cleaning and scutching 
flax. It is very simple in construction, occupies but a very small space 
3ft. 9in. x 3ft. 4in.), and is easily driven and attended. It is worked by- 
two persons, and will clean from 25lbs. to 30lbs. of flax per hour, when 
properly worked, in a superior manner, and with a great economy of 
fibre. The extremely low price of this machine biings it within the reach 
of everyone requiring flax scutched. 
Description for Use. — The workman takes a " strick " of flax 
straw (without being rolled, or other preparation), holding it near the root 
end, and passes it into the openings at the side of the machine, when it 
is subjected to the action of the scutching apparatus. The "strick" is 
then withdrawn by the opening where it was entered, and the other 'side 
turned to the action of the beaters and re-entered as before. The flax 
is now partially scutched or " roughed," when two or three pieces are 
then put together, and again'the same operation repeated as before de- 
scribed. When withdrawing the flax from the machine, let it be drawn 
slightly end ways ; for, by attending to this, the flax is found thoroughly 
scutched, and with the ends perfectly finished — an advantage over the 
ordinary system. The operation is remarkably rapid, and there is no 
risk of accident whatever. The "boon" falls through the machine, and 
the tow, of which very little is made, is collected at the back. The 
machinery is so simple that it cannot go out of order, and has been fully 
tested to the complete satisfaction of competent judges. 
The velocity of the machine to be driven to 460 revolutions per 
minute for average quality of straw. If the straw be hard and wiry, 
then the speed to be a little higher, and if soft, slower. The price of 
the machine is only 24/., for which sum it will be delivered f.o.b. on any 
