FLAX. 295 



The best flax-seed for sowing is reputed to come from Riga, 

 though Dutch seed is much approved. Thick sowing is strongly 

 urged, as it is desirable to have the flax shoot up in a straight 

 stem, with as little branching as may be, for the finer the stem 

 the finer the flax or fibre. Less seed is produced in this way, 

 but the flax itself is more valuable. The eminent manufac 

 turers, the Messrs. Marshall & Co., of Leeds, give it as their 

 opinion, &quot; that the cultivation of the flax for the fibre is of far 

 more importance than for the seed j and that by sowing seed 

 suitable to produce fine flax, and sowing it thick, (say three to 

 three and a half bushels, per acre,) the farmer, though he sacri 

 fices something in the value of the seed produced, will get a 

 more remunerating crop from his land than he now obtains.&quot; 

 This is a manufacturer s view of the question ; when the value 

 of the seed for feeding animals is considered, and the contribu 

 tion which, in this way, it yields to the enriching of the land, 

 the farmer may come to a somewhat different conclusion. 



The sowing of clover or grass seed is strongly objected to, as 

 injuring the root ends of the flax. It is desirable to sow as early 

 as convenient, as the earliest sown proves, always, the best crop. 

 It is understood that flax should never follow turnips, or any of 

 the turnip tribe ; and it may occur in a rotation twice in ten 

 years, or once in seven or eight years. 



4. WEEDING. If the land has been thoroughly cleaned 

 before sowing, the weeds will give little trouble ; but the crop 

 will require weeding ; and in order to do this, great care must 

 be taken not to twist or bruise the plant, and to weed facing the 

 wind, so that it may assist the plant to recover its upright posi 

 tion. Much injury may be done to the plant by carelessness in 

 weeding, which is performed usually by women and children, 

 creeping upon all fours, and so bearing more lightly upon the 

 plant than if they stood upon their feet. 



5. PULLING. It is important to determine the best time for 

 pulling the flax. The fibre is of a better quality, if pulled be 

 fore the seed is quite ripe. If pulled too soon, there is much 

 waste in preparing it ; if pulled too late, the fibre becomes 

 coarse. &quot; The best time for pulling is when the seeds are be 

 ginning to change from a green to a pale brown color, and the 



