Useful Hints to Fiaxmillers

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 9, 2 January 1890, Page 3

Useful Hints to Fiaxmillers

We have received from Mr C. Spurting, hemp 'and flax broker, of London some very useful hints for fluxniillers Ist. That, as far as possible, the colour he uniform, and of palish yellow. tind. That wh^re two or more colours exist, they should as far as possible, be separated into, secondary marks. 3rd. That no runners or hard strikes (improperly decorticated fibres), should be left in the heads or layers. 4th. That the seed or crop end should be softened ; the tow and hard particles being carefully removed. sth. That the bales generally shipped at present are to heavy and bulky and the heads too large. Square press- packed bales of-2£ to 2£-cwt each are much preferred to larger bales, aud the heads should not exceed 2£ to 3£lb weight each. 6th. That fine ana good coloured hemp should be protected by a cloth or canvas wrapper. 7th. That the hemp be carefully wetted or steeped in none but clean water, a running stream being most advisable. The defects of colour visible in many parcels of fibre shipped clearly indicate a want of proper care in this respect, and that discoloured or stagnant water has been too frequently used in the steeping process. Bth. That neither in baling nor in dumping should iron bands or iron wire be used since cither by ship's sweat, or by sea damage, the iron is liable through oxidation to discolour and materially to effect the ■saleable value of this articles. 9th. the bales be bound with New or other hemp ropes, but not with iron .bauds, or wire rope of any description^ 10th, That to prevent chances of fire, through spontaneous combustion, the hemp be thoroughly well dried before packing or baling, llth. That in order to do full justice as bet.veen one district of growth and another, each district of growth, if possible, should be superadded to other shippers' distinctive marks.