Flax- Cultivation in the Count ij of Suffolk. 195 



one-fourth of that shift woukl be as much as could profitably be 

 spared from farms that are properly stocked. 



Preparation of the Soil. — If flax is grown instead of beans or 

 peas, the land may be treated in like manner as for those crops ; 

 that is to say, if your barley-stubble be as clean as land ought to 

 ])e which has borne but one crop after a fallow. But if more be 

 required, run some sort of a broadshare or skim-plough through 

 the land about two inches deep, in September ; harrow it well 

 and burn the stubble on small heaps, as the ashes are very bene- 

 ficial to the growth of flax, then take the first chance of getting 

 on the manure in September, or early in October, when it will 

 go on well ; good crops of flax can, however, be grown after 

 barley without any skim-ploughing or breaking the stubble, if 

 the land is clean. Simply plough in the manure as early as 

 November, at a depth of four to five inches, this will be quite 

 sufficient for any barley-stubble which had been properly tilled 

 in the previous year. 



When flax is grown after wheat in lieu of a root-crop, or long- 

 fallow, if the wheat-stubble is clean, plough it up as early as 

 possible in September, not less than seven inches deep, and in 

 October or early in November, plough it back at the same depth ; 

 no more tillage will be required till the time of sowing, and then 

 the use of the harrows will probably be sufficient. But if the 

 zcheat-stuhbles require cleaning, and the weather is fine, a Biddell 

 scarifier or a like implement may be used ; then when the field 

 has been well harrowed and clod-burnt to a moderate extent only, 

 plough in the ashes at once about three inches deep, and in the 

 month of October or not later than November, give a second 

 ploughing about five inches deep ; the ashes will then be in a 

 proper position when the seed is sown. In no case should the 

 last ploughing be given later than December, as a fine surface, 

 resulting from winter-moulds, is most beneficial to this crop, or 

 indeed indispensable in dry seasons, as you have no fear about 

 securing a plant on lands in this condition. In any case, whether 

 the following season be wet or dry, you are by this plan better 

 prepared than by any other. It is not essential to have a great 

 depth of mould at the time of sowing, a fine surface with suf- 

 ficient moisture being inuch preferable to lands worked about 

 late in the spring, and exposed to sharp drying days in February 

 and March, 



Seed. — The best Riga barrel-seed, once grown in England, 

 will provide the best seed for sowing and general pui'poses, and 

 its use may be continued as far as the third or even the fourth 

 year. Eight pecks per acre is sufficient if drilled in rows ; or 

 nine pecks if sown broadcast ; during the last two seasons the 

 small turnip-flies have done so much harm to the plants when 



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