86 FLAX. 
and stagnant water, and allowed to continue there 
several days. By the fermentation which takes place, 
the bark or flaxy substance becomes separated. They 
are then taken out, and thinly spread upon the grass, 
in regular rows. Here they are occasionally turned 
until they have become so brittle, that, on being rubbed 
between the hands, the flax easily and freely separates 
from the stalks. They are taken up, and bound in 
sheaves, to be either sent to a mill, or to be broken 
and scuttled, as it is called, by a machine contrived for 
that purpose. 
The flax, by the above process, having been separated 
from the stalks, it subsequently undergoes various 
dressings, according to the purposes for which it is to 
be used. 
When the plants have been grown for seed, they are 
pulled as before, and then laid together by handfuls 
upon the ground, with the seed ends towards the south, 
that they may be the better exposed to the sun. The 
next operation is to force off the seed vessels. For this 
purpose a large cloth is usually spread on some adjacent 
and convenient spot of ground, and an instrument, 
called a ripple, is placed in the middle of it. This is a 
sort of comb, consisting of six, eight, or ten, long, tri- 
angular, upright teeth. The seed ends of the flax are 
pulled repeatedly through the teeth of the comb, by 
which the parts containing the seed are removed from 
the stalks. After this the pods and seeds, which have 
the name of line-seeds, are spread upon a cloth in the 
sun to dry, and subsequently are threshed, sifted, win- 
nowed, and cleansed. The best seed is generally pre- 
served for sowing, and the second sort yields consider- 
able profit in the oil which is obtained from it by pres- 
sure. This, which is called Unseed oil, is equally useful 
in the arts and in medicine. It is occasionally employed 
for making the soap called green soap. If heat be ap- 
plied during the pressure of the seeds, the oil attains a 
yellowish colour and a peculiar smell, and, in this state, 
it is used by painters and varnishers. An infusion of the 
