Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1854-08-16
guuaon free press.
AGRICULTURAL.
From Scientific American.
Flax Industry.


tland and Livonia, the peasant grows flax
.- in three years upon the same so in
ofthese provinces it is grown principally
seed, but the fax fiber yielded is neverthe-
merchantable as "inferior quality" unless
crop is entirely neglected. In those dis
IT'S where the flax is cultivated for the fiber,
seed is sold under the title of "swingled fax
3D." The most unnsal method of rotting is by
means of stagnaut water, and the time re-
ired varies from eight to fifteen days.
In l638-39, Belgian workmen were employ
"A by the government in various districts, to
ach the peasantry the method of rotting flax
the improved processes used in the Low
suutries, and the Minister of France was au-
rized to distribute the sum of one thousand
yer ruhes, in premiums to the peasants who
sa)ull most successfully carry out the Belgian
sa proyements.
In quality the fax of Russian ranks after that
Holland, Belgium, France and Germany
some attribute this inferiority to difficulties
which arise from the nature of the climate. 1t
IS said that in Russia 'the season proper for
voeetation is two short" The fax grows and
r.pens too quickly--much faster than in France
or Belgium, where nature performs her task
more slowly and perfectly. Flax in Southern
EErope when sown in March, generally expe
rilaees some bad weather, which hinders its
Frs. growth, and Strengthens the root, and when
Che warm season afterwards comes on, the veg
c.1. On is vigorous and furnishes a fax more
delicate than the fax of the Baltic. A differ
cnce S noticed even in France, when the sow
lag IS protracted from March until May. or
June; then, the crops grow more quickly and
the quality of the fiber closely resembles that
@. me Russian flax.
Two reasons concur to favor the expectation
q the flax from Russia, viz: the low price, and
the division of fax into classes according to
qVality.
The cheapness of fax is owing to the factthat
he Emperor and the mobiles posses all the serfs
and have thus an abundance of cheap hand la
bor The land is of little value, and the peas
ants have little to occupy themselves with in
the long winters with the exception of dressing
flax.
Flax, in common with all other productions
of the country is classes according to its quail
ity. This is effected as follows: When the fax
arrives at Riga, or St. Petersburg, it is stored
in depots specially designated for the purpose.
Here inspectors, appointed by government, are
charged with the duty of classifying it. All
marks and designation are first obliterated;
the bundles are then opened, and all which is
not of the first quality is taken out and placed
by itself. This second lot is again examined,
and again subdvided according to quality
A commission appointed by the buyers watch
over the inspectors, ammo sample of fax is ex-
amined unless one or more of the commission
ers are present. When the Classification is eff
fected each parcel receives its distinctive mark.
The expense Of these regulations, which is in
considerable, is borne by the proprietors of the
fax. This plan offers all satisfactory guarantees
to the purchases, and the owners are prevented
taking any unfair advantage.
The export Of fax and hemp from Russia has
greatly increased within the last twenty years
and is progressing. The largest proportion
exported finds market in England.
the trade OLA years, from 1910 to 1853 inclu-
Sive, it appears that during the first seven years
of this period Great Britain was indebt to Rus
STA for Il per cent. of all her hemp importatiors
and during the last seven years for about 62
per cent. of fax. About two thirds Of all the
quantity imported is Russian. From tables Of
European commerce recently published, it APP
pears that the 28,OO0,OOO of British people
annually export produce to the value of about
9000O,OOOl sterling-the 36,OO0,OO0 of the
French export to the value of about $4,000, OOOl
and the 100000 of European Russian ex
ports to the value of about $4,000, OOOl Russia
exports raw produce exclusively consisting
chiefly of grain, tallow, flax, linseed, hemp, wool
timber, and bristes; the three items first named
commonly exceeding in value all the rest.
The following statistics of this fax and hemp
expectations of Russia, furnish some idea oil
the extent of the production of these substances
in that country.
The yearly average importations flax, hemp
and tow into Great Britain from Russia for the
ten years ending 1851, was 100000 lbs.
The other countries ofEurope import as follows
France, in 1898, imported of fax and hemp,
1900 lbs; in 1916 the Russian imports amour
ted to over Is 100000 lbs, and in l849 to 20
403, 466 lbs. Belgium, which in 1888 import
ed only 400 lbs. offax, imported upwards of
100000 lbs. in 1916.
The Russian export of fax seed averages an
nuaay about 100000 English bushels.
At the Exhibition Of the Industry of all Ma
tons, at the New York Crystal Palace, in 1858,
new variety ofaax seed from Russia was ex-
hibited by Mr.. Leon Falkersaborf, Member of
the Agricultural Societies of St. Petersburg.
Moskowa, &C., &c. 1t was described as y new
variety flax, sown winters crop. and
superior to the Spring sown seed. The sam.
pies Of the fax fiber produced from this seed
which were exhibited in connection with it. were
the most perfect as regards strength, luster, and
lifelike appearance of any on exhibition, and
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