Hackling Flax by hand. circa 1880

Hackling Flax by hand. The stalks were broken apart by beating down on a metal comb. They were then retted (rotted) in water to remove the soft tissue, leaving the fibrous material. The long fibres of the stem Flax plant (Linum) were processed to produce linen. Engraving from Great Industries of Great Britain (London, circa 1880)

Apart Beating Comb Fibres Fibrous Flax Hackling Industries Linen Linum Processed Produce Remove Soft Stalks Stem Tissue

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