great saving of time as compared with either the cold or hot process of steeping, and of being carried on without its unpleasant accompaniments. From 12 to 24 hours are now sufficient, instead of the 3 or 4 days by the hot-water steep, and the 2 to 3 weeks by the ordinary processes. The practice, however, is not likely to gain ground, as the ingredients are expensive, a portion of the products rendered useless, and the fibre liable to be injured unless proper care be taken.

We now come to the third division of the processes due to chemical agency, where simple solvents, as water, either heated or in the shape of steam, is alone made use of. This is a very important advance upon any of the old methods,-the tediousness and irregularity of the steeping process, whether cold or hot, with its noisome accompaniments are avoided,-no expensive chemicals are required,-the chance of injury to the fibre is lessened, and the whole of the products of the operation are rendered valuable to the manufacturer. This method of treating flax was patented by Watts in the middle of last year, and was shortly afterwards carried into operation on a large scale at Belfast. Its simplicity and effectiveness were speedily recognised; and already several other establishments are in progress in different parts of the country. The whole arrangements required are inexpensive and occupy but little space. The straw is placed in a steam-tight chamber (No. 2), of a suitable size and shape, the top being formed by an iron tank (No. 3) containing cold water, and the lower end having a perforated false bottom (c), at about 12 inches from the other. Steam at a low

pressure is then blown from the boiler (No. 1), through a pipe (a), into the chamber, and, passing up through the straw, comes in contact with the iron top, by which it is condensed; then, trickling down the spikes (b) fixed there as points of dispersion, through the mass, it passes through the false bottom, carrying with it the extractive matter thus dissolved out of the straw, and is drawn off by the waste pipe * (d). This is continued for from 10 to 12 hours. The straw is then removed, and is passed through four sets of smooth rollers, which squeeze out about 80 per cent. of the water, and at the same time crush the stems, breaking up the central woody core or "shove," and materially assisting its subsequent separation from the fibre. From these rollers it is carried to the drying-house, which is heated by steam-pipes from the boiler, and thence to the scutching frames, where the operation is performed more rapidly and efficiently than when the flax is prepared by the ordinary method, owing to the thoroughly crushed state in which it comes from the rollers. The flax is then ready for market, having passed through the whole process, from the raw material to the prepared fibre, in the short space of about 36 hours.

The importance of this process to the flax interest generally was immediately recognised by the Flax Improvement Society, and a committee of investigation appointed to institute “a careful and extensive series of experiments, with a view to compare it, both in a practical and financial point of view, with the modes of hot and cold steeping generally practised." The Committee made their report on the 3rd of November last. The experiments were personally superintended by the Committee, and flax of ordinary quality operated upon, of which 10 cwt. 1 qr. 21 lbs. was taken and placed in the steaming chamber, when it was submitted to the action of steam for about 11 hours. After steeping, wet rolling, and drying, it weighed 7 cwt. O qrs. 11 lbs., and on being scutched the yield was 187 lbs. of fine flax, and of scutching tow 12 lbs. 64 oz. fine, and 35 lbs. 3 oz. coarse. The yield of fibre in the state of good flax was therefore at the rate of 18 lbs. per cwt. of straw, or 26 per cwt. of steeped and dried straw. The time occupied in the process up to scutching was 24 hours; the scutching by 4 stands occupied 6 h. 16 m. In this statement, however, owing to some derangement in the drying apparatus, the time required for that is not included; but the committee considered that 36 hours would include the time necessary in a well-organized establishment to convert flax straw into fibre for the spinner. The cost of all these operations in the experiment, leaving out the drying for the reasons stated,

*See Note, p. 206.

appeared to be under 107. per ton of clean fibre for labour, exclusive of general expenses. The valuation of the samples varied from 567. to 707. per ton, according to the quality of the stricks of fibre sent; and the yield on the heckles was considered quite satisfactory. The report throughout was very satisfactory. Here, then, we have a process which presents the following advantages over the ordinary methods:

1. Great saving in time.

2. Economy of fibre.

3. Avoidance of any nuisance, and beneficial application of waste products.

Dr. Hodges, to whom the steep liquor was submitted for examination, found that one gallon evaporated to dryness gave

The taste and smell of the liquor very much resembled that of hay, and when poured over the crushed "bolls" or chaff it was readily consumed by cows and pigs, who appeared to thrive on it. No purgative effect had been noticed, while its nutritive properties were estimated as fully er ual to distillers' wash.

No sooner, however, had the spiners given their testimony in favour of Watts' fibre, than another process was patented by Buchanan, which appears to be an improved application of the same principle as Watts', for the solvent power is clearly not due to the steam as made use of by him, but to the hot water occasioned by its condensation. In this the steeping is effected by repeated immersions in a tank of heated water, arrangements being made by which the temperature is never allowed to exceed a certain degree-a point of great importance, both as regards the abstrac

tion of the azotized extractive matter and also the quality of fibre produced. It is well known that albuminous solutions, containing even a very small proportion of albumen (1 in 1000), coagulate at a temperature of 180°, and then become insoluble; and it is always considered that fibre is more or less injured if exposed beyond a certain high temperature. These two important points have been taken advantage of in Buchanan's process; the temperature of the steep liquor is kept between 150° and 180°, and the operation, both as regards time and produce, more satisfactorily performed. The process is quite automatic, thus saving labour and the risks consequent upon carelessness; and the mechanical arrangements by which it is effected are very simple and inexpensive. The flax straw is placed in an open vessel (No. 3) termed the steeping vat, having a false bottom (i); a boiler (No. 1) generates the steam required; and between these two is placed a suitable vessel (No. 2), the condenser, of about the same capacity as No. 3, and communicating with that by the hot-water pipe (b), and with the boiler by the steam pipe (a). This centre vessel or condensing chamber is filled with water from the cistern (No. 5), and steam is then blown in from the boiler. When the latent heat of the steam is absorbed, and condensation no longer takes place, the hot water is driven over into the steeping vat, and completely immerses its contents. The overflow pipe (c) then conveys a portion into the bucket (No. 4), which, overpowering the balance weights (gg), descends, drawing the chain (e e), which, being attached to the pullies (ff) fixed on to the cocks of the steam-pipe (a), and of the condensing pipe (h), reverses their action by cutting off the steam and turning on a charge of cold water into the condenser. The steam in No. 2 is then rapidly condensed, and the liquor drawn back from the steep vat into which it had previously been forced. This completes the operation of immersion, which recommences immediately-for as soon as the overflow bucket (No. 4) has reached a certain point in its descent it strikes against a pin, having a screw adjustment, which causes the valve (d) at the bottom to open and discharge its contents into the discharge pipe (No. 6). The bucket, then relieved of its load, resumes its original position, the balance weights (gg) act on the pullies (ff), which again reverse the cocks, cutting off the cold water sparge, and turning on the steam to No. 2. This is repeated as often as may be required.

So far as the experiments have gone, it has been found that by ten such immersions the whole of the colouring matter of the flax has been removed. These in practice would not occupy more than three or four hours. This, however, is subject to the test of the operations on a commercial scale which are now in progress in Scotland for carrying out the patent.