About forty years ago our grandmothers made their own linen out of flax which was planted like the corn crop is now. When it was ripe it was a very hard process to get it manufactured. It was pulled blade by blade with the hand and made into sheaves. It was then placed in a big hole of water for eight or nine days, it was then taken up and spread out to dry When it was well dryed it was put over a fire which they made in the open air