Manual of flax culture, comprising full information on the cultivation, management, and marketing of the crop . Theswaths should be several inches apart so as not togfet tangled in turning, and be careful to keep thestraw straight and even. The length of time itwill have to remain, will depend upon the stateof the weather : if warm and showery, it will nottake so long as it will if the weather is dry orcold ; the period may be shortened by turning it ;the turning is easily and quickly performed witha smooth pole about 10 feet long, as in figure8 80. From 4 to 6 weeks will be required forrottin
Manual of flax culture, comprising full information on the cultivation, management, and marketing of the crop . Theswaths should be several inches apart so as not togfet tangled in turning, and be careful to keep thestraw straight and even. The length of time itwill have to remain, will depend upon the stateof the weather : if warm and showery, it will nottake so long as it will if the weather is dry orcold ; the period may be shortened by turning it ;the turning is easily and quickly performed witha smooth pole about 10 feet long, as in figure8 80. From 4 to 6 weeks will be required forrotting it, and it should be turned 2 to 4 times:though some recommend to let it lie until oneside is done, and it will then require but oneturning; but I think several turnings the flax takes on a silver gray color, andthe fibre begins to separate from the woodypart, especially at the ends ; or when on breakinga handful of the straws, or on twisting them,the woody part comes freely out, and leaves thelint or fibre clear, it is ready to be taken up. Intaking it up, keep the straw straight and even,. Fig. 30.—TURNING THE SWATHS. and bind in moderate-sized sheaves. If notthoroughly dry, set them on their ends until theyare so. It is now ready for the brake and scutchmill, or it may be stored under thatched stacks,or under cover until otherwise disposed of. Watering or Steeping.—This is a process bywhich the vegetable matter connecting the stemand fibre is decomposed by fermentation underwater. The value of the fibre depends very muchon the care bestowed on this process. The steep-ing pond should be made about 4 or 6 yards long,2 to 4 broad, and from 8 to 4 feet deep. Riverwater is the best; a small stream of water allowedto run through the pond will very much improvethe fibre in color. Care should be taken to avoidusing water containing minerals, as it will dis-color the fibre. The flax, after rippling, is broughtto the pool, in which it is placed in rows, one beetor sh
Size: 2057px × 1215px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, bookpublishernewyo, bookyear1883
