186 Cultivation and Proper Management of Flax. 



very dry weather. In very wet weather, the extra rain does not 

 get away from the roots of the plant ; and in very dry, the soil, 

 touched by the tap-root, becomes baked like a brick. Deep 

 cultivation allows the extra rain to pass down from the roots at 

 once, as through a filter, and in drought enables the plant to be 

 fed by capillary attraction from the moisture that lies below the 

 baking influence of a strong sun. 



Seed. — The seed most sought after in Ireland for many years 

 past is that Irom Riga. It has been found to be well adapted to 

 almost all classes of flax-growing soil. It is supposed also to 

 produce a longer croj) than other kinds of seed upon ground 

 of only medium strength. English seed, however, of the first 

 year, carefully reared from Riga seed, is much cheaper, and for 

 many years past has proved most satisfactory. American seed, 

 though once in repute, is little sought after now, and consequently 

 is hardly to be procured. Dutch seed is excellent for some 

 kinds of land, and if sown upon suitable ground, will produce a 

 heavier yield than any other. It requires the strongest and richest 

 soil, for poor or even medium ground will not bring it up to the 

 desired length. On fat land it is in less danger of " lodging," and 

 even though it does go down for a few days before the pulling, 

 it is less liable to be injured than Riga or any other kind. 



Soioivff. — According to the nature of the soil the seed may be 

 advantageously committed to the ground from the second week 

 in April to the second or third week in May. In the southern 

 counties of England it may be sown a fortnight or three weeks 

 earlier. With this as with almost any crop, other things being 

 equal, earlv sowing is ever the best. The moderate heat which 

 will then attend upon the young and tender growth of the plant 

 will permit it to mature and " make," as it gradually gains in 

 length ; whereas if it be late sown, the great heat during its early 

 stages brings it precociously forward, makes it spring up too 

 rapidly to its height, and thereby renders it less productive in the 

 mill. jNIoreover, the earlv sown will be first ready for the mill and 

 for the market ; no small consideration where so many are usually 

 contending for their " room " in scutching, and where the opening 

 prices of the season are not unfrequently the best. A week's delay 

 in sowing may throw a man a fortnight behind in pulling and 

 steeping ; and during these two weeks so many of his neighbours 

 may forestall him in the mill, that he may be a couple of months 

 behind time in reaching the market. Such delay is a serious 

 inconvenience to small farmers of limited capital who require 

 money for their jN ovember ])avments. On the other hand early 

 sowing is not unattended with danger. If the " braird " have 

 risen before the spring frosts are all past, it may become so 

 effectually nipped that it will never recover. All things con- 



