Working at the history center is a very energetic and exciting place where people bring their passions of the past into action. I am always impressed by our many demonstrators who bring their ...

RETTING is the process by which the pectic material which binds the fibres to the remainder of the flax stem is broken down and the fibres are liberated. When flax is immersed in water the straw ...

IT is well known that pectic substances are broken down during the retting of flax. There is evidence that other polyuronides also occur in flax straw and are attacked in retting 1. Their constitution ...

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If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in ...