Treatment of Flax
Unlike cotton, flax is contaminated by impurities from which it must be freed before it can be woven into cloth. The first process to which the freshly pulled flax is submitted is that of "rippling" or the removal of the seed capsules. Retting, next in order, is the most important operation. This is done to remove the substances which bind the bast fibers to each other and to remove the fiber from the central woody portion of the stem. This consists of steeping the stalks in water.
A FIELD OF FLAX IN MINNESOTA
The Flax Must Be Pulled Up by the Roots to Give Fibres with Tapered Ends.
(Photograph of C. R. Dodge).
Retting