240 THE YEAR-BOOK OF AGRICULTURE. 



the value of tlie cotton ; and if he could classify the fibres according to their length, and 

 pack the cotton in bales with equal and assorted fibres, a further advantage would bo the 

 result." 



Flax Industry in Russia. 



THE important position which Russia occupies at the present day, as regards the production 

 of flax and hemp, is well known, but the means of information relative to the production, 

 exportation, or preparation of this article, in common with the statistics of the other sources 

 of agricultural and mineral wealth in this country, are exceedingly limited. All materials 

 for acquiring knowledge relative to these subjects are therefore of especial value. 



The flax of Russia differs materially from that produced in either Belgium, Holland, France, 

 Ireland, or the other flax-growing countries of Europe. While the fibre is almost always 

 inferior, the Russian flaxseed has the highest reputation. It is a pertinent subject of inquiry 

 Why the produce of this seed sown in Russia is not equal to that produced from the 

 seed sown elsewhere ? The answer is that, The difference arises from a difference of culture, 

 and also from a difference of soil and climate. It is a fact well known to botanists and fruit- 

 growers, that a plant or tree yielding fruit, transferred from the north temperate zone to a 

 southern portion of the same zone, generally improves in character and strength, being at 

 the same time more hardy than the cognate plants growing originally in the same latitudes. 



Before entering into an account of the method of cultivation followed in Russia, we would 

 briefly direct attention to the geological constitution of the part of Russia where the cultiva- 

 tion of flax is prosecuted to the greatest extent. The soil of a great part of Russia rests 

 upon a sandstone of the secondary series, red or gray in color; this rock, more or less disin- 

 tegrated, extends throughout the most fertile portions of the country, from 66 N. lat. to 67 

 N. lat., where it terminates. Starting at latitude 56 N., it extends in level tracts upon the 

 Baltic, touching the district of Riga, stretches along the Gulf of Livonia, embraces a great 

 part of the district of St. Petersburg, extending to Lake Onega, the White Sea, and the Gulf 

 of Archangel ; from thence it bends to the north-east, and finally terminates about G7 N. lat. 

 The greatest width of this deposit, east and west, is between Windau on the Baltic, and Tora- 

 petz to the east. The surface comprehends, first, all the basin of the river Don ; second, a 

 great part of the course of the Volga ; third, a great part of the course of the Onega, even 

 to its mouth ; fourth, most of the basin of the Dwina, even as far as its entrance into the Gulf 

 of Archangel. The climate of this country, as indicated by the mean temperature, is as fol- 

 lows: In the level country along the Baltic, 52 40 7 N. lat., the yearly mean of the thermo- 

 meter is 46 Fahr. Mean temperature of the winter, 32 ; summer, 62 ; autumn, 45. St. 

 Petersburg, situated at 39 56', has a mean temperature of 38 ; in the months of greatest 

 heat the mean temperature is 65 ; in the months of greatest cold the mean is 8 6 7 . 



Archangel is situated upon the Dwina, near its entrance into the White Sea. During ten 

 months of the year, from September to July, all access to this place by water is prevented by 

 ice. The Dwina remains frozen until the month of April or May. On the llth of June the 

 sun remains above the horizon from Ih. 21m. morning, until IQh. 37m. evening. On the 

 llth of December it appears only from 10A. 9m. morning, to Ih. 51m. noon. This district 

 is included in that zone where the light continues during an entire month, from the com- 

 mencement of June to the first week in July. To the constant light and heat of this month 

 the production of flax is due. 



Odessa, the centre of another flax-growing district of Russia, is situated upon the Black 

 Sea, lat. 46 59' N., between the mouths of the Dnieper and Dniester. The soil is of the 

 older tertiary formation, designated by Murchisson as the older Caspian. The climate closely 

 resembles that of the South of France. 



Although the flax culture is less advanced in Russia than in other parts of Europe, we 

 have reason to believe that it has been known there for centuries, at least in the vicinity of 

 Odessa, Lithuania, Livonia ; but the provinces of PleskofF, Novogorod, and Archangel are the 

 districts which at the present day furnish the bulk and better qualities of Russia flax. In 

 Southern Russia they cultivate but comparatively little flax for the fibre, but considerable for 



