The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-11-25

Ing There iA no doubt the article can
be grown In the state. and clatEoD
should lead In the cultivation Of flax.
This Irish Textile Journal says further
Of the industry:
STEPPING OR RETTING.
After the pulling comes the retting or
watering. the dams for which are con-
structed In various ways. Advantage
should be- taken ~ every natural ditch
or pond that can be made suitable. but
when such cannot be had dams must be
dug.-s TO 10 feet wide and 20 TO 90 feet
in length, and not more than I feet deep
for each acre OF FAX straw 10 be steep
ed; and as they require TO be water
tight the best soil 10 make them In Ia
clAy--ihe position also should be such
II possible. as 10 command supply Of
water at the right time. OF course II
proper level can be obtained near a
large supply Of water. the dams can be
nlled at any time, but when surface
water is TO be depended upon. attention
must be given 90 secure sufficient sup
ply before hand. Bog water Is likely
to cause dlscoloration. and spring wa
ter is generally too hard: where rain
water can be gathered It is best, being
free from mineral impurities. Water
containing lime Is quite unfit for flax
stepping. and should on no account be
used but even good soft water must be
gathered with discretion. FOR II allowed
TO stand too long In the dams before be-
Ing used Il may become stagnant; this
must be avoided, for no matter how Of
fensive fiax-water may be after retting.
water already staEnant should not be
used Tor flax, Having the dams now
thoroughly prepared. and either sup
piled with water or In such a position
that water can be- turned on at pleasure,
the fax is arranged In the following
manner; 4 row OF beets lis placed
against the end OF the pond--almost
perpendicular. but. OF course. leaning
against the b1nk-then the next row
is placed leaning against the first one,
and so on until the dam is filled. The
beets should be all placed with the root
ends down, though, In some cases. every
second row has been reversed. and,
Judging by results. Il seems TO be a
matter not OF much importance. as flax
viii ret In any position. The reason.
however. given for keeping the head OF
the plant up is no doubt a good one,
namely, that the finer end OF the stem
requires more rettlng than the coarse,
and being next the air and heat, this
process is accelerated. II the dam is
not too wide-say. TO 10 feet--a plank
or two across the top will facilitate the
work. and save the workers from stand
ing in the water; and II II be feet-the
most convenient depth-the beets In
partially on end will not reach the level
of the bank. and layer is usually plac-
ed Hat on top Of the others. Next
covering OF ragweeds, rushes, ferns, or
is most plentiful.-is
spread over all. and and securely cover
ed with sods well lifted together II
these are not convenient, old boards
with stones on the top win answer. or
II broad, Hat stones are at hand In suill-
cient numbers boards can be dispensed
with. the object being to keep the flax
below the surface OF the water from
to 10 inches During fermentation, at
an early stage certain amount OF in
1ation takes place, and additional
weight must be put on to keep any por-
tion of the ilaX from rising above the
water, After this stage is passed. the
load must be gradually diminished, as
the flax settles down in the water Of
itself as the retting draws to an end;
and here II is well to repeat the caution
given Of not tying the beets too tightly; |
they must not be packed in the ponds !
too closely, or these natural movements |
during fermentation will be impeded.
The continued tendency Of tiax to sink
down, requiring the removal Of the ex-
ira stones from the top, is itself a sign |
that rettlng is approaching completion,
so that very careful attention is needed,
No absolute rule can be given as to the |
Of days required in water,
which vary from eight to fifteen, but !
ten or eleven is an ordinary time, Two
contribute to this uncer-
in Il. .-dlity of the water
used In the fermentation, which, of
course, varies so much that 1t cannot !
be accurately gauged beforehand; the
other is the temperature of the season |
and strength of the sun-and just as
these causes may be acting will the re-
suits be hastened or retarded. Water
readily acted upon by the chemical con-
stltuents of the flax straw, and which |
at the same time happens to be affected |
by strong sun will exhibit u change /
within twelve hours, whilst in water of |
greater hardness or under lower tenn
perature, or where both are in con-
junction, no change will be observable
for twenty-four hours or even longer;
tnVp,han of 1onro