American Watchman And Delaware Advertiser

FLAX.—Farmers are advised to water rot their flax, it being the easiest, cheapest and most profitable way of preparing it for dressing. Put the flax in small bundles, steep it in still water about 48 or 60 hours. As soon as the lint or coat separates from the stalk, it is time to remove and spread it out to dry, which will require three or four days it depending, however, upon the weather. Experiments have been fully made as to the strength and durability of cloth made from water-rotted flax, and likewise that from field or dew-rotted—and the advantage in favor of the former is about fifty per cent. Water-rotted flax can be bleached immediately after dressed, so as to become white and soft as fine silk; while with dew-rotted flax nothing can be done. The following is the manner of bleaching flax:—Boil it in ash lye of about half the strength necessary to make common soft soap, for 2 or 3 hours—rinse it well in vinegar and water, or any other weak acid preparation, and dry it either in the sun or under cover, where there is a free circulation of air.