Bread-Bakers v103.n031.1

Bob says

"After you slash, lightly sprinkle a little flour on top of the loaf before 
baking to give a rustic look."

If you sprinkle with flour BEFORE slashing the contrast between the floured 
top and the unfloured dough revealed as the slashes open in the oven is 
visually stunning, and the flour helps make slashing easier, the blade 
sticks less.

John