speed rollers 28 in this manner flax 20 is pulled from between the bending region 18a between the feed rollers 24a and 24b to the bending region 18b between the intermediate speed rollers 26a and 26b similarly the flax 20 is pulled from the bending region 18b between the intermediate speed rollers 26a and 26b to the bending region 18c between the high speed rollers 28a and 28b preferably the feed rollers are rotated at a rate of approximately 60 110 rpm the intermediate speed rollers 26 at a rate of approximately 1000 1750 rpm and the high speed rollers at a rate of approximately 2000 3500 rpm to achieve the pulling and stripping action between sets of roller assemblies 14 thus it is apparent that flax material 20 introduced to the roller assemblies 14 will be bent in a back and forth fashion in the bending regions 18 over and between the surfaces of the flutes 22 of roller assemblies 14 which will produce areas of weakness in the exterior woody shive material of the flax 20 then as the flax 20 is caused to be pulled between sets of rollers 14 the woody shive material will tend to dislodge.