European Flax
Native Flax or Linum marginale or
is closely related to European Flax or Linum usitatissimum. The
well known fabric linen has been made from fibres from this
species throughout Europe, the Mediterranean and the Middle
East for thousands of years.
Aborigines similarly manufactured
thread and string from our Native Flax, from which they in turn
wove baskets and fishing nets. Given their continuous 40,000 plus
year history on the Australian continent, it is quite possible
that Aborigines had been manufacturing bush string long before Europeans
discovered and refined the manufacturing process for their flax.
The method of extracting fibres European
Flax is detailed below. A some
what simplified process, using common household implements, would
yield rough bush string from our Native Flax. Such a simplified
process would have closely resembled Aboriginal techniques.
Retting
The first thing that must be done is to break
down the lignin that 'glues' the long cellulose fibres together
to form wood. This was done by soaking the cut flax stems in
fresh water for a few weeks or by allowing bundles of flax stems
to lie on damp ground for several months.
During this time bacteria break down the lignin
and free the cellulose fibres. If left to long bacteria will
start breaking down the cellulose fibres as well.
When the process is complete the stems should
feel a little slimy and there should be free fibres visible at
the ends of the stems.
Breaking & Skutching
The retted stems are then
thoroughly dried and crushed to break up the remaining woody
tissue. This is generally done with a mechanical device but can
just as easily be done with a small hammer or heavy block of
wood.
The dangling stems are then
scraped with a 'skutching knife' to free straw and leave behind
the hair like cellulose fibres. This could be done with a sharp
edged piece of wood or large blunt knife.
Heckling
This involves pulling the bunches
of fibres through a 'heckling comb'. This basically untangles and
softens the fibres ready to be spun into thread. Heckling combs
generally resemble a block of wood with protruding nails but you
could achieve the same result with a hair brush with stout
bristles.
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