<P> The mature plant is cut with mowing equipment, similar to hay harvesting, and raked into windrows . When dried sufficiently, a combine then harvests the seeds similar to wheat or oat harvesting . </P> <P> The plant is pulled up with the roots (not cut), so as to increase the fiber length . After this, the flax is allowed to dry, the seeds are removed, and it is then retted . Dependent upon climatic conditions, characteristics of the sown flax and fields, the flax remains on the ground between two weeks and two months for retting . As a result of alternating rain and the sun, an enzymatic action degrades the pectins which bind fibers to the straw . The farmers turn over the straw during retting to evenly rett the stalks . When the straw is retted and sufficiently dry, it is rolled up . It is then stored by farmers before extracting the fibers . </P> <P> Threshing is the process of removing the seeds from the rest of the plant . Separating the usable flax fibers from other components requires pulling the stems through a hackle and / or beating the plants to break them . </P> <P> Flax processing is divided into two parts: the first part is generally done by the farmer, to bring the flax fiber into a fit state for general or common purposes . This can be performed by three machines: one for threshing out the seed, one for breaking and separating the straw (stem) from the fiber, and one for further separating the broken straw and matter from the fiber . </P>

What do you mean by flax seeds in tamil