THE TECHNOLOGIST. [Aug. 1, 1865. 
18 ON THE CULTIVATION OF 
diately after pulling and put into the cesspool or vat, when it is intended 
to be steeped. This is, however, seldom done in Canada, dew-retting 
being the method usually adopted. When flax is allowed to stand in 
the stook with the seed on, it is necessary to turn the beets or shea v es, to 
prevent the action of the sun from injuring the fibre. 
Both dew-retting and steeping have been carried on successfully 
here. The Messrs. Perine, Bros, and Co., who have done so much in 
the County of Waterloo, have followed the dew-retting system ex- 
clusively, and in almost every instance the farmers themselves have 
undertaken to do this part of the labour, after taking the seed off, which 
is done by a ripple. This is an implement simple in itself and can be 
made by any handy blacksmith. It consists of a row of iron teeth 
screwed into a block of wood ; the teeth require to be eighteen inches 
long, tapering to a point at the top, and placed about 3-16 of an inch 
apart at the bottom. 
The straw or fibre is then carted to a meadow or grass field, spread 
abroad as evenly as possible, allowed to remain for about eight days, 
then turned over once, when at the end of other six or eight days, 
according to the weather, it is ready to lift. This is known by rubbing 
a few stalks of the fibre together between your fingers, and when the 
boon, or woody part, leaves the fibre freely, it is ready to lift. 
Should the party have water convenient, and follow the steeping 
process, the same course must be pursued after taking the seed off as in 
the case of dew-retting — i. e., the flax should be taken immediately to 
the cesspool or vats prepared for steeping. Vats are in common use at 
Norval Mills in the county of Halton. More depends on a proper 
knowledge of this particular process, than on any other part of the 
treatment of the fibre. 
First, it is necessary, if possible, to have soft river water, free from 
the influence of any mineral bed. If it be spring water, this may be 
brought to a proper temperature by running it into the vats or cesspool 
several days or weeks before you require to put the flax into the water. 
In Ireland I have known parties to have the water dammed up for 
three or four weeks for this purpose. In this country less time will do, 
the action of the sun being so much more powerful. In putting the 
beets or sheaves into the vats; each one should be laid with the root 
ends in a line with the band of the other, after laying the first row in 
the bottom at an angle, say of forty-five degrees. The time for steeping 
in this state varies from eight to ten days according to the season of the 
year, but generally from eight to nine days will be found to answer, 
although I have known it ready in five days, when put in the water 
during the hottest season of the year. It is as well to begin to examine 
after it has been in the water that length of time. Great care must be 
taken to have it brought to a proper focus to yield the most profitable 
article for market. This is known by rubbing a few stalks between 
your fingers, as already directed for testing it on the grass. When the 
