ABSTRACT

Each fibre of Flax is, on minute examination, found to be made up of a number of small parallel filaments, bound together, the separation of which to a considerable extent is necessary in successful Flax-spinning. To effect this to a partial extent, and to separate the tow, it is heckled. In heckling, the operator takes a stripe of Flax in his hand by the one end, throws the other end spread out over the heckle, or many steel-toothed comb, and draws the stripe towards him, repeating the process so long as necessary ; after which the other end of the stripe undergoes the same operation. This process removes the coarser fibres of the tow, and partially subdivides the filaments of the Flax. The same operation is then repeated on a finer heckle, the teeth of which are smaller and closer set ; and if the fibre of the Flax is required to be very fine, as it must be if intended to be spun into yarn for cambric, lawn, &c., the same process is repeated over still :finer heckles. These operations thoroughly

remove the tow, and sp1it up the fibre of the Flax into very minute hairs ; but where very small yarn is wanted, Flax of a fine, soft, silky fibre must be used, as a coarse strong quality cannot be sufficiently broken down, and yet retain sufficient strength to bear spinning, weaving, &c. Machine heckling is now practised extensively, and recent improvements have so far perfected the machines that the Flax can be heckled to a medium degree, both cheaply and well. Various machines have from time to time been patented, one of the most recent being that of Combe & Co., of Belfast, which is well approved by spinners ; but although the construction of the machines by different makers varies considerably, the Flax in all, as in hand heckling, is drawn over toothed combs, or else the combs are drawn through the Flax, the object being to produce the largest yield and finest fibre of dressed Flax, and at same time to give the tow thrown off good spinning properties.