335 
An abstract of a paper on “ The Growing of Linseed as a Farm 
Crop,” which, was read before the Agricultural Section at the 
recent meeting of the British Association, by Mr. Duncan Davidson, 
appeared in the “ Journal of the Royal Society of Arts,” Sept. 26 
1913, pp. 984-985. The object of the paper was the encourage- 
ment of linseed culture by farmers as a food substance for cattle. 
The author urged the special value of linseed as a cream substitute 
for calves, its superiority as a fattening and finishing food for older 
cattle, its ability to secure good condition in horses, its unrivalled 
effect as a tonic for ailing stock, not to mention its excellence for 
sheep as reasons for its culture. He discussed the increasing 
demand for linseed oil and the advanced price of linseed and cake 
which almost prohibit their use as stock foods. He further claimed 
that experiments go far to prove that 10 to 15 ewt. of linseed can 
be grown at a cost of about £6 per acre on medium land whilst 
£10 is paid for half a ton of linseed meal containing up to 10 per 
cent. of cheaper meal. He gave the cost of production on a well- 
S 
recommended sowing from 14 to 2 bushels of seed per acre (the 
seed weighing about 56 lbs to the bushel) more seed being necessary 
for a fibre crop alone. 
Diseases of Flax.— A few diseases are rather troublesome at times. 
The worst is possibly that known by the name of “ Flax wilt.” It 
is prevalent in France, Holiand, Belgium, Ireland, the United 
States, &c., but according to Massee, “ Diseases of Cultivated 
Plants and Trees,” p. 495, it is uncommon in Russia. It is due to 
the presence of a fungus (Fusarium lini, Boll.), and affected plants 
may be detected by the manner in which they suddenly wilt or fall 
over and die. The only possible remedy appears to be continual 
change of ground for the crop and this is probably one reason why 
flax is only successfully grown in many countries by a long rotation 
system. Flax rust (Melampsora lini, DC.), is another fungus disease 
which sometimes causes trouble. Its presence may be noted by 
orange-coloured spots on the leaves, &c. Mr. Massee refers to it 
on p. 326 of the previously-mentioned work. Wireworms some- 
times cause trouble, more especially when a flax crop is grown u 
newly broken up grass land. There are also certain caterpillars 
which may cause injury. a 
In conclusion it would appear that the present position of the 
ascertaining the suitability of flax as a regular farm crop, in places 
where it is not already grown. The farmer has little to lose 
through such trials and much to gain. In places where the summer 
is not sufficiently long, or warm enough, to mature a corn crop it 
seems quite likely that flax would succeed, since the harvesting of 
the crop is not so dependent upon weather conditions as it is for 
wheat or oats whilst flax occupies the ground for a much shorter 
time. 
32221 A BL 
