CULTURE OP FLAX. 195 



abounding in lime, are good. A heavy dressing of stable 

 manures may also be ploughed in deeply-in the fall. In 

 the cultivation of flax it is very important that the lower 

 strata of the soil should be in good condition. 



684. If the soil be mellow and under good cultivation, 

 one ploughing followed by a thorough harrowing will be 

 sufficient, but if it be stiff and ill prepared, two plough- 

 ings at least will be necessary. 



685. The quantity of seed to be sown also depends 

 upon the object in view. If it be desired to raise the 

 seed, only two bushels per acre will be enough. If the 

 fibre, about three bushels is needed. If the less quantity 

 be used, the plant will grow stalky and branch and 

 produce much more seed. 



686. But if the larger quantity be sown, the plants 

 force themselves up in a single stem, without branches. 

 This gives a better fibre, as branching shortens it and 

 makes it irregular. A long, straight, fine and delicate fibre 

 is by far the best, and it is found to be more profitable to 

 cultivate the plant so as to obtain this, than to raise it for 

 the seed. 



687. The seed is sown broadcast and covered with a 

 light harrow, then rolled. After the plants are up they 

 should be kept as free as possible from weeds, which 

 should be pulled up by hand. If the flax has been sown 

 thick on land well-cleaned by a hoed crop the previous 

 year, the weeds will not be troublesome unless their seeds 

 have been sown in the manure. 



688. The old method of harvesting flax was to pull it 

 by hand, tie in small bundles, and stook it. But the 

 processes of manufacture are now so far perfected that 

 the crop may be cut with the scythe or the cradle. The 

 old processes of water rotting, breaking, swingling, &c., 



