European System Of Flax Cultur

Author : A. W. Thornton
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781332343409
Total Pages : 66 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (434 download)

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Download or read book European System of Flax Culture Americanized and Adapted to the Local Conditions of U. S. An (Especially Puget Sound) written by A. W. Thornton and published by . This book was released on 2015-08-06 with total page 66 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Excerpt from European System of Flax Culture Americanized and Adapted to the Local Conditions of U. S. An (Especially Puget Sound): Ahe American System of Flax and Other Fiber Culture Flax for seed and fiber has been an established industry in Europe for several centuries, while in each section where the industry has been carried on, a different system has been practiced. Each system, varying to a greater, or less degree, but all more or less satisfactory in their results. The Irishman, adopting one system, being fully impressed with the idea, that his is the only correct one, and any departure therefrom is all wrong, and the result of gross ignorance. With due care, a good article is produced, and he fondly hugs himself with the delusive idea, that Irish flax is the best in the world.(?) I go across to Belgium, in the district of Courtrai, I find an entirely and radically different system in use, and a better and higher priced quality of flax fibre produced there, Mister Irishman, to the contrary; notwithstanding. My Belgian friend is just as fully convinced that the Irish system is all wrong. I leave Belgium and pass into Holland, and again find modifications in practice. Likewise, in Germany, Russia, Scandinavia and Austria, all practicing the peculiar system handed down from one generation to another as best adapted to their local conditions. During recent years, however, the whole system of manipulating flax for fiber production is being modified to meet the requirements of modern manufacturers. Formerly the flax industry in Europe was chiefly conducted by the small peasant farmer, who grew the flax, retted, spun and wove it into domestic fabrics, and great was the pride evinced by the farmers wife and daughters in the beautiful and artistic damask and linen fabrics which they produced. Now, however, that is all changed, and large spinning mills with thousands of spindles have been established, while the costly modern machines have been produced to cater to the increased requirements of the large spinners, they requiring large quantities of fibre, of uniform grades, while the small farmers could only produce small quantities of varying grades, the business passed into the hands of more extensive cultivators. Not only so, but the son cannot now work to advantage on the plan practiced by the father owing to new developments by the advance of agricultural science, in the way of fertilizers. The tactile skill of the father has not passed to the son. While the lessons taught the son in the Agricultural Colleges is an unknown language to the father. In the midst of this demoralization came the competition of the cheap cotton and shoddy goods and the peasant class with that want of foresight which characterises them as a class, were led to abandon the more durable, healthful and economical homespun products of the flax plant for the cheaper cotton. Another strong competitor arose in the culture of the sugar beet, which, being a cash money crop, and not requiring the same amount of care, attention and hard work, helped to wean the small farmer from flax culture. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.