PROJECTED REVIVAL OF THE FLAX INDUSTRY 603 



flax comes from a gravel soil with gravel subsoil : in the north 

 of France excellent flax is grown on a very light sandy loam 

 and the soil of East Flanders is very similar to the French, 

 although it differs from it in containing a larger proportion of 

 sand and in being in a better condition owing to the high 

 cultivation that has so long prevailed in Belgium. The flax 

 soil of West Flanders is somewhat heavier than that of East 

 Flanders, as it contains a larger proportion of clay and in some 

 cases approaches the composition of the heavier marlish-loam 

 known in Holland as " Zeeklei." This is a deposit of sand rich 

 in clay which is widely distributed: it "weathers" readily, 

 forming a good porous firm soil and it may be said that flax 

 cultivation in Holland is confined to the regions of that 

 particular deposit. 



The flax districts of Russia are so extensive that it is difficult 

 to formulate a general statement as to the class of soil yielding 

 the best crops. It may be said, however, the chief characteristic 

 is lightness, the soil being composed largely of sand. The poor, 

 sandy, scrub-land between Vologda and Tver produces flax of 

 excellent quality and when it is properly farmed and sown 

 remarkably good crops are raised. This type of soil extends 

 eastward as far as Viatka and Perm and the whole region is a 

 flax-growing area ; but in the western provinces of Pskoff, 

 Vitbesk, Livonia, Kurland and Kovno the soil is somewhat 

 heavier in consequence of the widely distributed moraine matter 

 in those regions. 



Although flax is not a specially delicate crop to grow there 

 are several points in regard to its cultivation which require 

 unusual attention. One of the main factors which make for 

 success is the care with which the soil is prepared for the seed. 

 The importance of cultivating the land to a high degree of 

 firmness is to be emphasised, for therein lies much of the secret 

 of success. Not only must the soil be fine but it must be 

 firmly bedded. It would be .difficult to lay too great stress 

 upon the fact that the seed-bed must be deeply worked and 

 firm, with a shallow surface layer of fine soil to cover the seed. 



Although flax has long been specially cultivated for the fibre 

 it bears, it is only comparatively recently that attempts have 

 been made to evolve a system of manuring the crop so as to 

 harvest better fibre. The growing period of flax is short ; it 

 is only on the land about twelve to fourteen weeks and probably 



