301 Agricultural Gazette of N.S. IF, [^pW/ 2, 1908. 



. jPnly one fiict was cliaracteristic of all n'])lies obtaiiic(l. \ iz., that there 

 should be as long a period of years intervciiin- hctwcen flax crops as possible. 

 Most growers in the Nethi rlaiids and Belgium liuld that the cliicf necessity 

 for long series of crops in the rotations is due to the destructive action of 

 flax-wilt, but tliey also lu'lieve in the process as one that is ess ntial to general 

 agriculture. Of the best producci-s of (ibie fla.x, few t)elieve in less than seven 

 year series. ^Vlauy recommend inmh longer rotation periods and favour tlie 

 introduction of grass and pastuic in tlie series of cmps. A wry (•iiniinnn 

 rotati(jn in the Netherlands is as follows: — (1) Manure or I'ape ; (2) wheat; 

 (3;), ry.e ; (4) legumes (horse beans); (5) flax; (6; potatoes ; (7) pota'oes ; 

 and (8) fallow-rest, and crop of weeds turned under as a green manure late in 

 the season. If the soil is very fertile, the potatoes follow the legumes 

 preceding the flax. 



. , In Russia the peasants, according to the compulsory customs of the particular 

 commune, piactice either three or six year I'otations. In the better flax- 

 p^'pducing villages the rule is usually for a six-year rotation, as follows : — (1 

 and 2) wheat; (3 oats; (4) rye; (5) pasture; (6) flax. In many districts 

 the common rotation is : — (1) fallow; (2) wheat, rye, oats, oi' bailey; (3) 

 pasture for the village cattle ; and then flax year after year until the soil is 

 practically robbed of the strength necessaiy to support even grass. 



In the noi'thern regions of Russia, a scrub and timber countr}-, where the 

 population is s})arse, great crops of fibre flax are grown by "land rest" method. 

 A.fter each flax crop, the peasant allows the land to run wild as a village 

 pasture, and to grow up to scrub timber for ten or fifteen years. Tlie scrub 

 is then bvu-ned off' and the breaking is cropped to flax. By this wasteful 

 method they grow undoubtedly the hest flbre straw known. The laud cleared 

 in this way seems to have all the advantages of virgin soil. 



The feature most widely observed is that on light soils a leguminous crop is 

 of much benefit in pre[)aring the soil for flax culture. If, however, the soil 

 naturally possesses much available nitrogen, the flax is sown so long after the 

 leguminous crop as possible, and is usually preceded bv grass or hay crops. The 

 most common procedure in all countries seems to be the placing of flax in the 

 series after several years of grass and pasture. This seems impuitant when 

 freedom from the destructive action of wilt is considered. During the wiiter's 

 investigations, however, no grower was found who believed that any sort of 

 rotation series could serve as a comjJete specific against the occurrence of 

 flax sick .soil. Tt is also self-evident that no rotation can be given which will 

 fit all soils and regions. 



Control of Weeds. 



Very little need be said of weeds. It is not supposed that they should 

 be allowed in any carefully grown crop ; vi't there is probablv no crop in 

 which their presence is more pernicious tjian in flax culture. In the case of 

 fibre crop they must all be removed fi-om the straw by hand before retiing, a 

 "very cpstly process, 'ilieir presence in t!ie croj) also causes unevenness of 

 growth ajid maturing, with associated evils. In the seed crop they occasion 



