154 ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY.
Sepals 4 5, persistent, sestivation imbricated. Petals 4-5, hypogynous unguiculate, cadu •
cous, twisted in sestivation. Stamens equal in number to the petals and alternate with them,
united at the base to a hypogynous ring or torus, from which proceed little teeth opposite the
petals, indicating abortive stamens. Anthers ovate, erect, introrse. Ovary with about as many
cells as sepals, seldom fewer, styles as many as the cells. Stigmas capitate, capsule, generally
pointed with the hardened base of the style, several celled, each cell partially divided into two
by an imperfect spurious dissepiment, and opening by two valves at the apex. Seeds single in
each cell, compressed, inverted, albumen usually present, Embryo straight, fleshy, with the
radicle pointing to the hilum. Cotyledons flat.
Affinities. These are still sub-judice, one set of Botanists viewing the order as more
nearly allied to CaryophyUaceae and Malvaceae, while another considers it as little else than a
section of Geraniaceae. The objection to this last arrangement, advanced by Dr. Lindley, the
want namely of the gynobase, seems to me a very strong one, and in the absence of that 1 cannot
see any other very evident relationship, by which the order approaches nearer the one set of
orders than the other, and look upon DeCandolle’s opinion, that it is an order intermediate
between and having affinities with CaryophyUaceae, Malvaceae, and Geraniaceae,between the
two first of which he places it, as well founded.
Dr. Lindley places Lineae in his Calycose group between Elatintae and Hugoneaceae,
to both of which they are obviously allied.
G eographical D istribution. Species of the genus Linum are found in all the four
quarters of the globe, but most abundant in Europe and the northern parts of Africa. Three
are met with in the Peninsula of India, but perhaps one of these, L. usitatissimym, introduced,
though that is uncertain now. Mr. Royle mentions some others which he found at the foot of
the Himalayas, and at moderate elevations on them. The whole number enumerated by
DeCandolle in his Prodromus is 54, Don in his edition has extended them to 77, but whether
these are all good species may be doubted.
P roperties and Uses. Flax the produce of the bark of the Linum usttatissimum, has
been known and highly valued from a very remote period, on account of the beautiful cloth of
which it forms the bases. In modern times, though less extensively employed now that the
cheaper and more pleasant, but less durable, cotton cloths have come into general use, it still
holds its place on account the strength and delicacy of the numerous and beautiful fabrics into
which it is converted, among which may be mentioned the various kinds of Linen, Cambrics,
Lace, See. The preparation of the flax to procure it of the best quality is one requiring much
care, and what seems remarkable has but recently attracted the attention and attained that
degree of perfection which its commercial importance merits. I he steeping or watering of
flax, a process which injures its quality is still in general use. A mqdern improvement is, to
steep the plant, whether green and fresh from the field, or after it has been dried and stacked
for months, for a few hours in hot water and soft soap, which is said to separate the fibre from
the woody matters better, than many days steeping in the usual way, and without rotting or
deteriorating its quality. Great improvements have also been made in the machinery or
cleaning flax, by which the process is greatly expedited, and a finer material produced, as will be
seen in the following extract from Loudon’s Encyclopaedia of Agriculture, giving some account
of the method. . . lc .n
“ Lees9 method o f breaking flax and hemp, without dew-retting, was invented in loiu,
and was the first step towards a great improvement, brought nearer perfection by the new
patent machines of Messrs. Hill and Bundy. | c •.
Hill and Bundy’s machines are portable, and may be worked in barns or any kind ot outhouse,
they are also well calculated for parish workhouses and charitable institutions, agrea
part of the work being so light that it may be done by children and infirm persons, and such is
the construction and simplicity of the machines, that no previous instruction or practice is ie-
quired, their introduction, therefore, into those asylums would be the means of effecting a considerable
reduction of the poor’s rate. The woody part is removed by a very simple machine,
and bv passing through a machine equally simple, the flax may be brought to any degree o
fineness, equal to the best used in France and the Netherlands, for the finest lace and^eamt>i .
The original leDgth of the fibre, as well as its strength, remains unimpaired, and the aifferen
of the produce is immense, being nearly two thirds, one ton of flax being produced from four
tons of stem. The expense of working each ton obtained by this method is only five pounds.
The glutinous matter may be removed by soap and water only, which will bring the flax to such
perfect whiteness, that no further bleaching is necessary, even after the linen is woven, and the
whole process of preparing flax may be completed in six days.”
This extract I introduce not in the hope that the plan can be rendered applicable to this
portion of India, for the dressing of flax, though I think it may be to a very large extent in
the upper provinces of Bengal where so much flax is cultivated for its seed only, but, under
the impression that if the method here mentioned was adopted for the preparation of the flaxlike
fibres of the very numerous plants, natives of this part of India, producing them, they
might be the means of furnishing us, from among them, with some very valuable articles for
the fabrication of cordage and cloth in imitation of linen, or the Chinese grass cloth. The
method of separating the fibres by steeping the plant for several days in water certainly impairs
their strength and durability, an effect which the application of a weak alkaline solution does
not, it would appear, produce, while it, through a chemical action, effectually removes the vegetable
extractive and other matters with which they are combined in the plant, and so rapidly, as
not to allow time for the partial decomposition of the fibres which results from the protracted
immersion required for their separation, when that is accomplished by the simple process of
steeping in water.
I shall conclude this too brief notice of an important subject, by another extract from
Loudon’s Encyclopedia of Agriculture, detailing a method of preparing flax to resemble Cotton
in whiteness and softness, the principle of which may perhaps be found applicable to some one
of the flax-like products of India.
“ A method o f preparing fla x in such a manner as to resemble cotton in whiteness and
softness, as well as in coherence, is given in The Swedish Transactions for the year 1747. For
this purpose a little sea-water is to be put into an iron pot or an untinned copper kettle_and a
mixture of equal parts of birch-ashes and quick lime strewed upon i t ; a small bundle of flax is
to be opened and spread upon the surface, and covered with more of the mixture, and the stratification
continued till the vessel is sufficiently filled. The whole is then to be boiled with
sea-water for ten hours, fresh quantities of water being occasionally supplied in proportion to
the evaporation, that the matter may never become dry. The boiled flax is to be immediately
washed in the sea by a little at a time, in a basket, with a smooth stick at first, while hot and
when grown cold enough to be borne by the hands, it must be well rubbed, washed with soap,
laid to bleach, and turned and watered every day. Repetitions of the washing with soap expedite
the bleaching; after which the flax is to be beat, and again well washed, when dry, it is to
be worked and corded in the same manner as common cotton, and pressed betwixt two boards
for forty-eight hours. It is now fully prepared and fit for use. It loses in this process nearly
half its weight, which, however, is abundantly compensated by the improvement made in its
quality.”
It only remains for me to add that the quantity of flax imported into Great Britain ds about
1 ,000,000 cwts. annually,worth about millions sterling and principally derived from the continent
of Europe. At this rate it seems to be a subject deserving the attention of those in
Bengal who cultivate the plant for the seed alone, to ascertain whether flax, fit for the English
market could also be profitably prepared from it, in place of the whole plant, except the seed
being rejected as useless. I certainly think, that this would be found to be the case, as a
climate suited to bring the seed to perfection there is reason tQ believe might prove equally
suitable for maturing the fibre, provided it can be removed and dressed uninjured by the operation.
This may be doubted if the method of steeping is employed, but not so if the more scientific
plan of dissolving the extractive matter in an alkali and then washing it away is pursued.
Linseed for the production of which, the cultivation of this plant is annually extending in
Bengal, affords by compression a valuable drying oil, much used by painters. The remaining
oil cake, is used for fattening cattle. From the seed a jelly is also prepared by slowly boiling
it for about two hours, which is similarly employed by cattle feeders. In medicine
the infusion of the bruised seed forms an excellent demulcent, in various complaints requiring
medicines of that description, the decoction affords a useful emolient enema in some cases of
bowel complaint: while the meal, simply mixed with boiling water forms an excellent poultice
of easy preparation. Linum catharticum “ is bitter and powerfully, but, as it seems not danger