226 



Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 April, 1919. 



The quantity of seed mentioned can be readily .•^own by itself, and. 

 therefore, should not be first mixed Avith manure, as if left for a time 

 before sowing, the seed is liable to injury. 



If a crop of seed only (no^ fibre) is aimed at, a sowing of from 

 20 to 30 lbs. per acre, according to local conditions, should be sufficient, 

 as this would allow the plants plenty of room for growfh and branching. 



Manures. 



On this subject, also, there is much room for experimental work, 

 which in all probability will be carried out, as far as possible, this 

 season in several centres, and it is hoped that useful data will be 

 secured for next year's operations. For the present, however, it may fee 

 stated that bone or bone and super, in equal proportions give good 

 results, and is usually applied rather more freely than for a cereal 

 crop, for, as previously stated, it is desiraltle that the young plants 

 should in every way be helped to make good growth before winter. 



flax Crop of Messrs. Orr Bros., of Dabnore. 



Harvesting. 



The best time for harvesting is when most of the bolls have 

 turned brown, though some of the lower ones may yet be more or less 

 green. A further guide is that the stems at this stage usually, but 

 not necessarily, begin to turn yellow, and the lower leaves to drop oif. 

 though, if in a moist situation, the plants ma}^ not lose their foliage 

 so early. 



Flax can readily be cut with a reaper and binder, but the machine 

 must be in good working order; plain knives are best, and require to be 

 well sharpened ; an old, well-worn machine with blunt blades would 

 proibably give a lot of trouble. Sheaves should be small, well butted, 

 and tied rather nearer the hcnd than otherwise, the bands having a 

 tendency to slip down. 



Long narrow stooks are best, and .«hould 'be stacked as soon as ready, 

 as standing in the paddock longer 'than necessary causes loss. 



