Flax Is Used To Make Linen & Has Been Grown In Britain For Centuries. Flax Is The Forgotten Harvest But Crucial For Bed, Bath & War.
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The Egyptians grew and used linen at the time of the Pharaohs. Later, in Tudor England it was a vital crop for farmer, weaver, dyer, tailor and even paper makers. Throughout history linen’s popularity has waxed and waned and the ability to buy it depended on the quality which drove the price. Peasants used poor quality linen whilst the rich used high quality linen, often embroidered with silk.
One indication of how important linen has been in Europe is that harvesting flax, and related topics, appeared as a subject in art. Paintings of linen, weavers and associated topics abound.
Flax, Linum usitatissimum, also known as common flax or linseed, is a flowering plant, in the family Linaceae. It is cultivated as a food and fibre crop in regions of the world with temperate climates. The fibre is used to make linen as per the video. The food element applies to humans and cattle. Flax seed can be eaten as is, or used to produce an oil for food manufacturing and even as linseed oil in paint making.
Flaxseed is an ingredient in cereals, pasta, whole grain breads and crackers, energy bars and various other snack foods.
Two variants of the crop is grown. One is shorter and grown for the seed harvest and oil, whilst the other is taller and is for flax. These aren’t different species, just different varieties.
But this article is about flax fibres and Flax Harvest & Processing as is the following 1951 video topic.
