FLA 
very large surface to be carried off by the 
atmosphere ; and the loss of this watery va- 
pour which the flannel sustains on the one 
side, by evaporation, being immediately re- 
stored from the other, in consequence of 
the strong attraction between the flannel 
and this vapour, the pores of the skin are 
disencumbered, and they are continually 
surrounded by a dry and salubrious atmos- 
phere.” He expresses his surprise, that the 
custom of wearing flannel next the skin 
should not have prevailed more universally. 
He is confident it w'ould prevent a number 
of diseases ; and he thinks there is no greater 
luxury than the comfortable sensation which 
arises from wearing it, especially after one 
is a little accustomed to it. “ It is a mis- 
taken notion,” says he, “ that it is too warm 
a clothing for summer. I have worn it in 
the hottest climates, and at all seasons ot 
the year ; and never found the least incon- 
venience from it. It is the warm bath of 
perspiration confined by a linen shirt, wet 
with, sweat, which renders the summer heats 
of southern climates so insupportable; but 
flannel promotes perspiration, and favours 
its evaporation ; and evaporation, as is well 
known, produces positive cold.” 
FLAT, in the sea-language. To flat in 
the fore-sail, is to hail it in by the sheet, as 
near the ship's side as possible ; which is 
done, when a, ship will not fall off from the 
wind. 
Flats, in music, a kind of additional 
notes, which; together with sharps, serve to 
r emedy the defects of musical instruments, 
wherein temperament is required. 
FLATTING, in gilding, is the giving the 
work a light touch, in the places not bur- 
nished, with a pencil dipt in size, in which 
a little vermilion is sometimes mixt. This 
serves to preserve and prevent its flawing 
when handled. See Gilding. 
FLATULENCY. See Medicine. 
• FLAX. See Linum. 
Flax is an excellent commodity, and the 
cultivation of it a good piece of husbandry. 
It will thrive in any sound land, hut that 
which has lain long tallow is best ; which 
being well ploughed, and laid flat and even, 
the seeds must be sown in a warm season, 
about the middle or end of March, or at 
farthest tire beginning of April; and if a 
wet season happen, weeding will be neces- 
sary. The best seed is that brought from 
the' East country, which, though dear, yet 
easily repays the charge : this will last two 
or three crops, when it is adviseable to re- 
new the seeds again. Of the best seed, two 
FLE 
bushels may serve for an acre ; but more 
must be allowed of home-seed, because it 
grows smaller. When grown up, it ought 
not to be gathered before it be fully ripe ; 
for if pulled before the blossom falls, it 
hackles away almost to nothing ; and, though 
in appearance very fine, yet it has no sub- 
stance, and the yarn spun of it is weak and 
ouzy : it not only wastes in the washing, 
but the linen made of it grows extremely 
thin in the bleaching. The pluckers should 
be nimble, tie it up in handfuls, set them up 
till perfectly dry, and then house them. 
Flax pulled in the bloom proves whiter and 
stronger than if left standing till the seed is 
ripe; but then the seed will be lost. 
Flax, dressing of. When flax has been 
watered, and twice swingled, it is then to 
be heckled in a much finer heckle than that 
used for hemp. Hold the strike of flax stifl 
in your hand, and break it very well upon 
the coarse heckle ; saving the lrurds to make 
harder cloth of. This done, the strike is to 
be passed through a finer heckle, and the 
hurds coming from thence saved for mid- 
dling cloth, and the tare itself for the best 
linen. 
But to dress flax for the finest use of all, 
after being handled as before, and laying 
three strikes together, plat them in a plat 
of three rows, as hard and close together 
as you can ; joining one to the end of an- 
other, till you have platted as much as you 
think convenient : then begin another plat, 
and add as many several ones as you think 
will make a roll ; afterwards wreathing 
them hard together, make up the roll; 
which done, put as many as you judge con- 
venient into a henrp-trough, and beat them 
soundly, rather more than less than you do 
hemp. Next open and unplat them ? di- 
viding each strike very carefully from each 
other ; and so strike it through the finest 
heckle of all, whereof there are three sorts. 
Great care must be taken to do this gently 
and lightly, lest what is heckled from thence 
should run to knots ; for if preserved soft 
like cotton, it will make very good linen, 
each pound running at least two yards and 
an half. The tear itself, or finest flax, will 
make a strong and very fine holland, .run- 
ning at least five yards in the pound. 
FLEA. See Pulex. 
FLEAM, in surgery and farriery, an in- 
strument for letting a horse blood; A case 
of fleams, as it is called by farriers, com- 
prehends six sorts of instruments ; two 
hooked ones, called drawers, and used for 
cleaning wounds ; a pen-knife ; a sharp- 
