243 



seed should afterwards, at the proper season, be sown, and harrowed in 

 with a light or bush harrow, so as not to bury it too deeply. 



From two to two and a half bushels is the ordinary quantity of seed 

 required for an English statute acre when soAvn broadcast. At this 

 point, however, discretion is required, for when the land is rich and fer- 

 tile, and the season favorable, if too much seed is sown, the crop is in 

 danger of lodging; and when that happens, particularly before the pods 

 are formed, the flax proves inconsiderable in quantity and very inferior 

 in quality. When cultivated in the drill mode, eA en at narrow distances, 

 a much less quantity will be sufficient than in the broadcast ; and in those 

 cases of drill sowing where the intervals are large, scarcely half the 

 quantity is required. When the crop is intended for seed, in whatever 

 manner the sowing is performed, much less will be necessary than where 

 the fibre is the main object of the grower. 



The time of sowing is considered good from the middle of March to 

 the middle or end of April. But the last week of March or the first ten 

 days of April are best. However, in the south of Europe, it is some- 

 times sown in September and October, so that the plants remain on the 

 ground all the winter. These autumnal-sown are not so productive in 

 fibre, as those sown in the spring, but their yield of seed is better. 



It may be laid down as a general rule, that land which is intended for 

 flax crops should be brought to an exceedingly fine tilth, in the way 

 directed above, before the seed is put in, and that it should be enriched 

 by some sort of manure suited to the quality of the soil. Lime in a caus- 

 tic state is injurious to flax ; therefore, when it has been used for manure, 

 it is better to intermit the culture of flax for a certain season. The 

 "Royal British Flax Association," in their report of last year, recom- 

 mend as a manure for replacing chemically, the elements of the flax 

 plant, for one English statute acre, a composition of 



Muriate of potash SOibs. 



Chloride of sodium (common salt) ... 28 " 



Burnt gypsum 33 " 



Bone dust 54 " 



Sulphate magnesia, (Epsom salts) ... 56 " 

 And by the same authority, the following rotation of crops is suggested : 



For 1851 ...Flax. For 1855 ... Flax. For 1859 ... Oats. 



" 1852... Clover. " 1856 ... Barley. " 1860 ... Clover. 



" 1853... Grass. " 1857 ... Clover. 



" 1 864 . . . Oats. " 1 858 . . . Grass. 



