A supplement to Ures Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures, and Mines, : containing a clear exposition of their principles and practice. . into minute filaments, or, in other words, made fine. While the fibre ofcotton is incapable of subdivision, that of flax, as viewed through the microscope, is seen toconsist of a bundle of extremely delicate filaments adhering together, so that fine and coarseflax are really relative terms. Mr. Jennings throws down upon the flax fibre, as it appearsin commerce, a small quantity of oil, say half an ounce to the pound of fibre. He effectsthis by boiling the fibre
A supplement to Ures Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures, and Mines, : containing a clear exposition of their principles and practice. . into minute filaments, or, in other words, made fine. While the fibre ofcotton is incapable of subdivision, that of flax, as viewed through the microscope, is seen toconsist of a bundle of extremely delicate filaments adhering together, so that fine and coarseflax are really relative terms. Mr. Jennings throws down upon the flax fibre, as it appearsin commerce, a small quantity of oil, say half an ounce to the pound of fibre. He effectsthis by boiling the fibre in an alkaline soap lye, washing with water, and then boiling inwater slightly acidulated with pyroligneous acid which decomposes the soap and leaves itsfatty constituent on the fibre. It is afterwards washed once more, and is then found to be«oft and silky, and the coarse fibres capable of being readily separated on the hackle, while FLAX. 539 the strenRth is not apparently reduced. There is also a greater facility in the bleaching ofthe iS made from flaz fibre so treated, and less loss in weight in the bleaching process. 295. While some of the inventions referred to for hastening and equalizing the time of steep-ine are being carried out to a considerable extent, and promise well, when brought to aolater degree of perfection by experience in practical working, to be yet more largely em-ployed thi great mass of the flax grown throughout the globe is steeped in pools, m-ers orlakes. It wTll, therefore, be most advisable to follow the processes, as practised b) tlic ^^ Whentlfe^flax has been sufficiently retted, i. e., when on taking a few stalks out of thewater the fibre can be readily separated by the fingers along its ^^•; ^^-iV ti!l^\l ,1woody interior, it is removed from the water and placed to drum on the banks of the poodriver. It is then taken to a closely shorn grass-field or old pasture land and spreadthinly and evenly on the ground. In Flanders, however, the system
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