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, c1880). (Photo by: Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty Images)
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Album / Universal Images Group / Universal History Images \ UIG