Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1821-05-15
.Au &lCVAHU RAA.
From the Ontario Repository.
ON THE CULTURE OF FLAX.


In my last l endeavoured to impress
upon the minds OF the farmers OF our
country, the Importance and great utlll-
ty of the cultivation of Flax. When we
reflect upon the hardness of the times,
and the scarcity of money, we ought not
to lose sight Of that economy, which
every one has the means OF exercising,
and which is sure to bring relief; the
old adage is, that " a penny saved is two
pence earned"-and who is SO stupid as
not to see, that every article OF clothing,
manufactured IN the household way, is
SO much clear gain to the person who
makes ii, as well as to the country! and
it must be obvious to every person OF
disccrnment, that unless we supply our
selves with the materials from our own
farms, and through our own means, we
lose the profit resulting from such manu-
facture. Hence the importance of every
farmers raising his own Flax.
| will now say something about the
method of preparing fax for dressing,
agraeably to Mr.. Hopkins plan After
your fax is stripped of the seed, and
evened according to his directions, lit is
put into vat or clstern, for the purpose
oil steaming; the flax should be wet with
I've of wood ashes, previous to applying
the steam.---A common caldron, or pot
ASH kettle, will answer the purpose oil a
boiler, provided the cover is made to
shut tight, aud some continuance to pre-
vent the steam from throwing it OIL
The steam may be conducted through
wooden tubes into the vat, and thus rem
der the establishment cheap. The vat
may be made of planks, secured by a
strong frame, and Of size TO suit the
owners views. Mr.. H. recommends
,bat the fax be steamed at least twelve
hours: itmay then be taken out and dri-
ed, which, completes the process.-lt is
now ready for dressing, which may be
done in the ordinary way, or any i'm
proved method may be resorted to.--ln
tliis way Of preparing your crop of fax,
you are in no danger OF loss by over
ro,ting, which often is the case in dew
rot,ing, by reason of long rains, just as
your flax is sufficiently rotred, and thus
The expectations Of many good house
wife are blasted
Ii is well known fact, that BY boiling
linen ever SO long, it will not reduce its
strength; but 1t is quite the reverse, if
you spread it out on the ground, and ex-
pose it to the dews and rain for any con-
siderable time.-There are many con-
siderations which ought to induce the
farmer to adopt this method of managing
his flax BY it, the full strength of the
fibre is preserved, which is no small con-
sideration; and he is not under the ne
cessity of waiting till winter before he
can dress it--for he can study his own
convenience as to time. No matter how
soon it is dressed, after the fall crops are
secured--the sooner the better.
How often do we hear the Industrious
housewife dunning her husband to dress
his flax, so that she may have it for the
purpose of spinning? Now all this per-
plexity and trouble may be avoided, by
adopting the above mode of manage
ment. l have read several treatises on
the culture of Flax, and have found no
method so simple, and at the same time
so reasonable, as the one which l have
been treating can be more ra-
tional, than to suppose steaming will dis
solve and totally destroy the glutinous
s,.hstan.s which makes the fibre adhere
to the stalk; and when that is once &C
complished, all that can be expected
from the tedious and lahoriouss rr..cccess
of rotting in the usual way, is obtained.
Moreover, all the anxiety, occasioned by
fear of destruction from wind and
weather, unruly cattle, sc. is avoided.
would again urge the propriety OF
sowing early.
The quantity of seed necessary to the
acre, may be easily determined by ex-
uerienced farmers. have found from
one and a halfto two bushels about the
right quantity. -,
If the foregoing remarks should be
The means of increasing the quantity OF
this useful article in the country, shall
feel a qualification which will pay me for
the trouble of scribbling.
II friend to Domestic Economy.
Canandaigua, March 10, 1921.
Rehort ofthe Curators Of the Fh'tadet'
80: Co.;ot,, FIR hro n,ofinr 0pricNk-