FIELD CROPS. 541 



A report on flax culture for seed and fiber in Europe and 



America, 0. R. Dodge (U. 8. Dept. Ayr., Office of Fiber Investigations 

 B/pt. No. 10, pp. 80, figs. 5, pis. 4). — This report describes the different 

 kinds of flax and the methods of flax growing - practiced in Belgium, 

 France, Poland, Ireland, and Russia, and reviews in general the work 

 in the United States. The Loppens de Swarte system of retting and 

 its advantages are pointed out. In considering flax culture in the 

 United States, the author reviews the experiments made at the experi- 

 ment stations and elsewhere and gives cultural directions, including 

 selection and preparation of the soil, use of fertilizers, rotation of 

 crops, sowing, harvesting, retting, aud cleaning. 



An experiment in flax culture made in 1895 in the vicinity of Puget 

 Souud, Washington, is reported. The flax was grown from Riga seed, 

 the 4 plats containing about 5 acres. The seed was sown too late and 

 drought interfered with the growth of the crop, especially on sandy 

 soil. Plat 1, containing 1^ acres of sandy clay loam river bottom land, 

 was sown at the rate of 2 bu. of imported Riga flax on May 18. No 

 fertilizers were applied. The yield was at the rate of 3,865 lbs. of 

 clean straw and 17 bu. of clean seed per acre. The conditions on plat 

 2 were identical with those on plat 1, but the flax was sown at the rate 

 of H bu. per acre. The yield on this plat was at the rate of 3,557 lbs. 

 of clean straw and 16.8 bu. of clean seed per acre. 



In 1896 about 1 ton of flax straw grown in the Puget Sound region 

 was sent to the Hilden Thread Works, Lisbon, Ireland, aud there 

 retted and scutched. The work was done under the direction of Mr. 

 Frank Barbour, who reported the results in detail. In his report he 

 says, " If the flax is grown and manipulated under proper conditions 

 and by people who thoroughly understand the business in Puget 

 Sound, we are convinced that the cultivation of it will be of greatest 

 importance and in a short time would rival the great Belgium district 

 of Courtraie." 



Present status of flax culture in the United States, 0. R. 

 Dodge (Z7. 8. Dept. Agr. Yearbook 1897, pp. 471-180). — This article con- 

 tains a historical sketch of flax culture, a popular description of the 

 more important species of flax, a discussion of European methods of 

 culture, a comparison of the conditions of the industry in the United 

 States and Europe, and suggestions for developing the industry of flax 

 culture and manufacture in this country. 



A report upon the grasses and forage plants and forage condi- 

 tions of the Eastern Rocky Mountain region, T. A. Williams 

 ( U. S. Dept. Agr., Division of Agrostology Bui. 12, pp. 78, figs. 30). — This 

 bulletin discusses the topographical features of the Eastern Rocky 

 Mountain region, with a special consideration of the soil and the water 

 supply. Detailed accounts of the cultivated grasses aud forage plants 

 and the more important plants native to the region are presented, the 

 present prospect of the forage problem of the region is discussed, aud 

 methods for the improvement of ranges are suggested. An index to 

 both common and botanical names is given. 



