April 2, 190S.] A(jricuUural Gazette of N.S.JK 299 



of some of the noted Kussian Hax-producing districts bear out this state- 

 ment. The lesson for American farmers is that, fc-o far as tiax is concerned, 

 soil quality is rather a secondary consideration. The strains of seed used 

 and the climatic and atmospheric conditions seem to be tirst in order of 

 importance. 



Growth-periods of the Crop. 



The flax plant of cultivation is naturally an annual, and is, therefore, 

 limited to climatic and soil conditions which are suited to the growth of 

 such plants. In certain southern regions, including southern France, it is 

 sometimes cultivated as a winter annual, but such varieties are found to 

 mature when sown as spring crops in the usual flax-growing regions. The 

 complete growth-period varies somewhat according to the types or varieties, 

 and quite considerably according to the climate and region in which the 

 crop is grown. Flax may, however, be looked upon as a short-season crop. 

 It is quite common for the seed crop to be matured in from two and one- 

 half to three months. This makes it a very important crop for northern 

 regions. Indeed, the fibre ci'op, as has been previously noted, may be 

 produced in very fine form in regions so far northward that few other crops 

 may be successfully matured. 



The entire growth-periods of the plant may, for convenience, lie divided 

 into (1) the period immediately following seed germination, and preceding 

 the development of the regular foliage leaves ; (2) the period from the seed- 

 leaf stage to the blossoming stage ; (3) the period of flowering and lioll 

 formation; and (4) the period of maturing. Very much depends upon tlie 

 condition of weather and soil during these definite periods of growth as to 

 the final types of the products ; and much depends also upon whether one is 

 growing the crop for the production of fibre or seed, what sort of weather 

 should be hoped for, and what soil conditions one should strive to maintain. 

 Generally speaking, a halting, irregular growth will result in tlie formation 

 of a woody straw and a poor type of fibre product. There may or may not 

 be a good seed crop produced under these conditions. If the aim is to 

 produce a long even growth of fine fibre, everything possible should be done 

 to obtain an even and rather slow growth. Arrangements shovdd be made 

 to provide that texture and drainage of the soil which will give as constant 

 a water supply as possible. Anything which checks the growth of the straw 

 during the period preceding boll formation is sure to result in an inferior 

 tyi^e of fil)re. If a drought sets in at some time when the straw should be 

 making its greatest strides in length and increase of diameter, there will be a 

 formation of woody straw and a thickening and hardening of the fibre cells, 

 and the straw becomes contracted, stunted, and brittle. 



Where the crop is being grown for seed purposes, the matter of an even 

 growth is almost of &\\x'a\ importance. It is extremely important to the seed 

 crop that the atmospheric conditions should be sutficienfly dry to cause the 

 sturdy woody t3'pe of stem growth and a heavy production of foliage, for the 

 reason that seed production demands a strong branching plant-body with 

 large leaf surfaces. In order that the boll formation may be numerous and 

 c 



