262 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



After wheat, one plowing may be sufficient on light, friable 

 loam, but two plowings are better; and on stiff soils three are 

 advisable — one immediately after harvest, across the ridges, and 

 two in spring, so as to be ready for sowing in the first or second 

 week of April. Much will, of course, depend on the nature of the 

 soil, and the knowledge and experience of the farmer. The land 

 should be so well drained and subsoiled, that it can be sown in 

 flats, which will give more even and much better crops. But 

 until the system of thorough draining be general, it will be advi- 

 sable to plow early in autumn, to the depth of six or eight inches. 

 Throw the land into ridges, that it may receive the frost and air, 

 and make surface drains to carry off the rains of winter. Plow 

 again in spring, three or four inches deep, so as to preserve the 

 winter surface for the roots of the flax. The spring plowing 

 should be given some time before sowing, to allow any seeds of 

 weeds in the land to vegetate, and the harrowing in of the flax 

 seed will likely kill them, and save a great deal of after weeding. 

 Following the last harrowing, it is necessary to roll, to give an 

 even surface and consolidate the land, breaking up this again 

 with -a short-toothed or seed-harrow, before sowing, which should 

 be up and down, not across the ridges, or anglewise. These 

 operations can be varied by any skillful farmer to suit peculiar 

 soils or extraordinary seasons. The object is to have clean, fine 

 soil, as like as possible to what a garden soil should be. 



Rotations recommended by a gentleman of considerable experi- 

 ence in the culture of flax.- 



Average soils : Poor soils : 



1. Grass. 1. Grass. 



2. Oats. 2. Oats. 



3. Potatoes or turnips. 3. Potatoes. 



4. Wheat. 4. Flax. 



5. Flax. ~ 5. Hay. 



6. Clover hay. 



Sowings 

 The seed best adapted for the generality of soils is Riga, 

 although Dutch has been used in many districts of the country 

 for a series of years with perfect success, and generally produces 

 a finer fibre, but not so heavy a crop as Riga. In buying seed, 

 select it plump, shining and heavy, and of the best brands, from 

 a respectable merchant. Sift it clear of all the seeds of weeds, 



