Shawn Wentz, age 11, of Duluth, Minn., for her question:

WHERE DOES LINEN COME FROM?

Linen  that marvelously strong and durable natural fiber so elegant and rich in appearance  comes from the stems of the flax plant. The tough fibers are separated from the outer bark of flax stems by retting, or soaking in water. This decomposes some of the substances that hold the inner fibers to the stem. After the stems are dried the linen fibers can be pulled off by machines or by hand. Now the fiber can be combed into long parallel fibers called line, and short fibers called tow.

Every year more than 1 million bounds of linen are produced, mostly in the Soviet Union and Poland. Fine linen is also produced in Ireland and Belgium, although on a relatively small scale. Fine quality clothing, household textiles and sewing thread are available in linen.