VEGETABLE FIBERS. 585 



is f^rown, BO fhat the glutinous Bnbstance -vtashed out in the process be returned to 

 the land, or, if water retted, the steep water pumped up aud spread over the land, and 

 the shive or woody part composted with the manure of the farm, or simply spread 

 over the land, it will be found that, instead of deteriorating, land will steadily im- 

 prove under the culture of these plants, and at the same time yield a fair profit to 

 the farmer. 



Foreign flax-producers are of tlie opinion that flax improves tlie soil 

 instead of ser\ing to impoverish it, and that a peculiar advantage at- 

 tending the cultivation of hemp and flax is that a crop of the former 

 prepares the land for the latter, and therefore a crop of hemp is a clear 

 gain to the farmer. Hemp has been grown for a number of years upon 

 the same ground in Kentucky without the fertility of the soil being per- 

 ceptibly deteriorated. There seems to be no reason why flax culture 

 cannot be carried on as profitably in this country as in any other if 

 proper care is taken to keep up the fertility of the soil, due attention 

 being paid to rotation, and, above all, bestowing upon the crop careful 

 culture. 



Mr. Proctor gives as the rate of yield of flax in Ireland 300 to 521 

 pounds of fiber to the acre, and an enormous yield of 1,210 pounds is re- 

 corded. The average yield for Belgium in ten years amounted to about 

 470 pounds. In France the figures are stated a* 505 pounds, Holland 

 471, and Eussia (where less care is taken) 280 pounds to the acre is re- 

 corded. Land is less expensive in this country than in foreign flax-grow- 

 ing sections, and importing the fiber must add to its cost, so there is 

 every encouragement for flax-growing in this country for those who wish 

 to farm with brains. 



In selecting a soil for flax-growing, a moist, deep, strong loam upon 

 upland will give the best results. Barley lands in the Middle States are 

 held to be the best, and in the Western States new prairie and old turf 

 lands are frequently chosen. A weedy soil is not to be thought of, and, 

 in this connection, manures that are liable to contain ungerminated seeds 

 should be avoided. 



A New York State flax-grower of long experience considers that heavy 

 clay loam stands first as regards both fiber and seed ; gravelly loam second 

 best — produced but half a crop ; light sandy loam and coarse gravel third 

 best. In Kentucky and other hemp-growing States this crop is consid- 

 ered " an excellent preparation for flax, freeing the land from weeds ; 

 and if the hemp was retted upon the land and the shives burned or, 

 better, spread it in the spring, the land would be in good condition." 



Flax culture in Russia is conducted upon alluvial soils, on the vast 

 plains in the interior, which are subject to annual overflow from the 

 rivers, leaving a rich deposit upon the soil. It is therefore the lack of 

 high culture in Russia that accounts for the lower grades, and less quan- 

 tity per acre, of flax. The roots persetrate deeply, and deep loam that 

 is not liable to excess of moisture nor yet too great a degree of dryness, 

 is the best suited to the crop. Such soils are found in river bottoms. 

 The soil of much of our prairie land in the west will answer for flax cult- 

 ure, and recent timber lauds are also considered good if there is proper 

 drainage. It has been asserted that " the Livonians, when clearing a 

 forest, burn the wood upon the surface as a preparation for flax," and 

 that such a soil is preferred by them to any other. 



One great element of success in foreign flax cultivation is the careful 

 attention paid to the rotation of crops. In Flanders, growing the crop 

 upon the same ground once in ten years is considered the best system, 

 though the plan is not always adhered to. A favorite rotation in Flan- 

 ders is potatoes j barley, seeded with grasses j meadow, cut for soiling 



