FLAXMAN. Moira, with the aid of T. B. Bailey, of Hope, near Manchester. The full details of the process employed do not appear to have been published; but from Lady Moira's letters in the Transactions of the Society of Arts for 1775, it appears that the fibre was boiled in an alkaline lye, or a solution of kelp, containing carbonate of soda, and subsequently scoured. The result of this was that "the fibres seem to be set at liberty from each other," after which it may be "carded on cotton cards." It appears that at this time flax-cotton "was made and sold at 3d. a pound;" and Lady Moira states, that she believes that it takes colours better than flax. It is curious to observe the fate of Lady Moira's scheme: she says,—"I have no reason to be vain of the samples I have sent you; they merely show that the material of flax-cotton, in able hands, will bear manufacturing, though it is my ill fortune to have it discredited by the artisans who work for me. I had, in Dublin, with great difficulty, a gown woven, and three waistcoats; but had not the person who employed a weaver for me particularly wished to oblige me, I could not have got it accomplished."
Subsequently to this, several attempts were made in Germany to convert flax into a fibre resembling cotton. In 1777, Baron Meidinger proposed to convert flax into a sort of cotton, by the action of alkaline solutions, &c. In 1780 a factory was established at Berchtoldsdorf, near Vienna, for the practical working of this process; and similar plans were subsequently brought forward by Kreutzer in 1801, Stadler and Haupfner in 1811, by Sokou in 1816, and by several others. At the factory at Berchtoldsdorf, not only was flax converted into cotton, but likewise a useful cotton-like fibre was prepared from tow and refuse flax; and the same is said to have been done by Haag, near Pressburg, in 1788, by Göbell in 1803, and Segalla in 1811. Whether these various plans failed from the effects of jealousy and opposition, like that which prevented Lady Moira from introducing her "flax-cotton," is unknown, but it does not appear that any of them were long persevered in: it is probable, that in most cases the neighbouring manufacturers set themselves against the introduction of flax-cotton: for Beckmann, who speaks of its manufacture near Brunswick, states that the work-people determined not to use the new material, though at the same time he observes, that excellent fustians were made which could not be distinguished from those manufactured with ordinary cotton. The extreme similarity of flax-cotton to ordinary cotton is also remarked by Des Charmes (1799), who states, that if the staple be cut before it is carded, it is not possible to distinguish it from cotton, either in its raw state, or when manufactured. The matter was subsequently investigated by Berthollet, by Gay Lussac, and by Giobert, who employed alternately steepings in hot solutions of soap, alkali, and sulphuric or muriatic acid. Berthollet observes, that equally fine cotton is obtained from the commonest refuse tow as from the best flax.
For some valuable information on fibrous materials, the produce of India, which may be cheaply and usefully substituted for Russian hemp and flax, see "The Fibrous Plants of India fitted for Cordage, Clothing, and Paper," by J. Forbes Royle, M.D., F.R.S., Lond. 1855; and also an article, entitled "Indian Substitutes for Russian Produce" in the Edinburgh Review for July 1855.