Cultivation of Arable Land. Flax Seed Time- and Method of fowing. 225 



Time and method of fowing. The period of putting flax crops into the ground 

 is different, according to the fituation and nature of the foil; but from the be 

 ginning of March to the middle of April may in general be confidered as the 

 mofl proper feafon. In Yorkfhire, when this crop is cultivated upon land 

 broken up from the ftate of grafs, the feed is moftly fown before the fecond 

 week in April, if the weather will admit of it;* and on fuch lands as have 

 been in the Mate of tillage, the period of fowing is feldom protracted more 

 than a week or ten days longer. Early fowing, where it can be fafely adopted, 

 has the advantage of enabling the flax plants to cover the ground well before 

 they can fuftain much injury from thofe of the weed kind, or from the effects 

 of the dry hot fummcr feafon. 



The broadcaft method of fowing is that which is the moft generally em-- 

 ployed in putting crops of this fort into the ground, cfpecially where they are 

 intended only for the purpofe of flax ; but where the feed is the chief object, 

 they are fometimes put in in the drill method : and it is contended by forne that 

 in this way better feed may be produced, than by the former mode; as where 

 the feed is fcwn thickly the plants run up more in height, and produce a 

 flaxy fubftance which is of an extremely fine and foft quality; but the feed, from 

 the weaknefs of the plants, is fmall in the grain, and not large in quantity; while, 

 on the contrary, when fown thinly the (terns of the plants, not riling fo high, 

 are more ftrong and vigorous, fending off more numerous branches towards the 

 top, by which not only a greater abundance of feed is afforded, but fuch as is 

 much better filled, and more plump and heavy. 



In fowing the crop in the firft method, much care is necefTary in the feedf- 

 man to diftribute the feed over the furfaceof the land in as regular and uniform 

 a manner as poflible, as without this care the crop will fuftain great injury by 

 coming up too clofely together and in tufts. It is afterwards to be harrowed in 

 by one or two light harrowings in a place; or, where the furface of the ground 

 has been rendered very fine and even, a bufh-harrow may anfwer the purpofe 

 equally well. The feed mould not in either way be covered in too deeply, as the 

 quick vegetation of the crop may by fuch means be too much retarded. 



Where the drill is employed, the diftances of the rows may vary according to the 

 circumftances of the foil, or the intentions of the cultivator; but when the crop 

 is to be -kept clean by the hand-hoe, fmall intervals, as twelve inches, are moftly 

 recommended ; but where horfe-hoes or cultivators are to be made ufe of, inter- 



* Corrected Report of the Weft Riding of Yorkfliire. 

 VOL. II. Gg 



