Hackling Flax by hand. The stalks were broken apart by beating down on a metal comb. They were then retted (rotted) in water to remove the soft tissue, leaving the fibrous material. The long fibres of the stem Flax plant (Linum) were processed to produce linen. Engraving from "Great Industries of Great Britain" (London, c1880).

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Photo credit: © Photo12/Ann Ronan Picture Library / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 19th, century, engraving, linen, men, textile, vegetal, workers, working