ON THE CULTURE AND MANAGEMENT OF FLAX CROPS. 26J 
be sown; but the quantity should be reduced as low as three and a half 
bushels per Irish acre for poor land. 
“ The greatest attention should be given to the weeding of the crop, 
which should be commenced when the flax is about four inches above 
ground. The pains taken in this operation will be amply repaid by 
the result. 
“ When the seed is perfectly formed, and has become of a brownish 
colour, the flax should be pulled and made into bunches, as much as a 
man can grasp in one hand; but, in pulling, the hand should not go 
lower than within sixteen or eighteen inches of the ground, lest it 
should take up the short flax with the long. If the flax be suffered to 
remain beyond the time pointed out for pulling, it deteriorates, as the 
oily properties escape, an indication of which is given by the emission 
of an odour from the plant. 
“ Six bunches, as described, should be laid on each other, viz. the 
first, straight on the ground; the second, aslant across at the root end ; 
the third, in a like slant reversed across the second; the fourth, in a 
like slant across the third ; the fifth, in a like slant across the fourth 
reversed ; and the sixth, straight along the whole to cover it. The 
seed ends should be toward the sun, and the root ends of all should be 
together, so as to be raised and to create a slope, in order that the rain 
may run off. 
“ After remaining in this state to dry and harden, four, five, or six 
days, according as the weather may be, every six bunches of the flax, 
when dry, should be tied together loosely, in sheaves, taking care to 
keep that part of the flax outside which was on the ground. Eight 
sheaves should be formed into a stook, the roots downward; and the 
stocks should be ranged in straight files, north and south, in order to 
have the full advantage of the sun and wind, and that their removal to 
the ripple or store may be facilitated. In this way it may remain 
eight, ten, or fourteen days, according to the weather. 
“ When the flax is sufficiently dried, the rippling or process of 
taking off the seed should immediately take place. This may be 
done according to circumstances, in the field, in a barn, or other con¬ 
venient place. 
“ The ripple is an iron pin, about sixteen inches long, one inch 
square at the bottom, and gradually narrowing to the top. Sixteen 
of these pins should be set angularly, about one quarter of an inch 
asunder, in a block of timber four to six inches thick, eighteen inches 
wide, and sloped at each side, so as to let the boles [seed-vessels or 
capsules] fall the more readily upon the floor, or any canvass sheet, or 
