AGRICULTURAL BOTANY. 241 



the seed, the exportation of -which to foreign countries is rapidly becoming of great import- 

 ance. The culture of flax in the north-west and central portions of the empire requires the 

 use of manure, and of thorough plowing and pulverization of the soil ; but in the southern 

 portions of Russia, a single plowing, imperfectly performed in the autumn, without the use of 

 manure, is sufficient preparation for obtaining an excellent crop of flax, especially when the 

 season has been moderately moist. In favorable seasons the product of seed is from twenty 

 to twenty-five bushels for one, but the average of the whole country is not more than eight to 

 twelve bushels for every one of seed. 



The proprietors who cultivate flax for the seed use the stalks for fuel, not knowing how to 

 turn them to any better account. They also cut or mow the flax, instead of pulling it, which 

 renders it somewhat unsuitable for the production of fibre. 



The method of cultivation in that part of Russia where they make but little use of the 

 straw is as follows : They sow on the virgin soil of the steppes, in the vicinity of Odessa, or 

 upon land which has been cultivated with grain or some other crop the preceding year. The 

 crop can be repeated in the same soil for two succeeding years, without any inconvenience. 

 The labor of cultivation is extremely simple. They plow to the depth of about six inches 

 once in the autumn. In the spring they harrow with care, and between the fifteenth of April 

 and the first of May they sow broadcast about three English pecks of seed to two and a half 

 acres. When they design to preserve the fibre, they sow about one-third more flax. The 

 crop is a certain one, if it rain but a very little during the months of May and June. This 

 flaxseed is highly esteemed for exportation, and as it sells for highly remunerative prices, viz., 

 from $1 50 to $2 00 a bushel, the culture rapidly increases in Southern Russia. In 1830, the 

 amount of seed exported was 13,000 bushels : in 1838, it had increased to 300,000 ; in 1839, 

 to 350,000, representing a value of $600,000. The exportation of flax fibre from this section 

 of country is small, as hand labor is dear, and the population sparse. The small quantity 

 which is prepared is imperfect and low-priced. The rotting is made ordinarily with water, 

 but occasionally dew-rotting is pursued. The subsequent operations, including that of spin- 

 ning and weaving, are conducted in a manner equally rude and imperfect. The manufacture 

 of cloth is exceedingly restricted, and is wholly of a domestic character, the production not 

 exceeding the local consumption. 



In the district known as New Russia, the amount of cloth is not sufficient for the home 

 demand, and the deficit is made up by importations from the northern portions of the empire. 



In Lithuania, Couriand, and Livonia, the peasant grows flax once in three years upon the 

 same soil ; in a part of these provinces it is grown principally for seed, but the flax fibre 

 yielded is nevertheless merchantable as "inferior quality," unless the crop is entirely neglected. 

 In those districts where the flax is cultivated for the fibre, the seed is sold under the title of 

 " swingled flaxseed." The most usual method of rotting is by means of stagnant water, and 

 the time required varies from eight to fifteen days. 



In 1838-39, Belgian workmen were employed by the government in various districts, to 

 teach the peasantry the method of rotting flax by the improved processes used in the Low 

 Countries, and the Minister of Finance was authorized to distribute the sum of one thousand 

 silver roubles, in premiums, to the peasants who should most successfully carry out the Bel- 

 gian improvements. 



In qxiality the flax of Russia ranks after that of Holland, Belgium, France, and Germany. 

 Some attribute this inferiority to difficulties which arise from the nature of the climate. It 

 is said that in Russia " the season proper for vegetation is too short." The flax grows and 

 ripens too quickly — much faster than in France or Belgium, where nature performs her tasks 

 more slowly and perfectly. Flax in Southern Europe, when sown in March, generally expe- 

 riences some bad weather, which hinders its first growth, and strengthens the root, and when 

 the warm season afterwards comes on, the vegetation is vigorous and furnishes a flax more 

 delicate than the flax of the Baltic. A difference is noticed even in France, when the sowing 

 is protracted from March until May or June ; then here the crops grow more quickly, and the 

 quality of the fibre closely resembles that of the Russian flax. 



Two reasons concur to favor the exportation of flax from Russia, viz., the low price, and 

 the division of the flax into classes according to quality. 



16 



