FLAX. 179 



two years out of five. When well matured, the seed will 

 average 3 to 5 Ibs. for every pound of the brush. A single 

 acre has produced 150 bushels seed, though 25 to 50 is a 

 more common yield. It weighs about 50 Ibs. per bushel, 

 and is usually sold at 25 to 35 cents. 



THE USES of broom corn are limited to the manufacture 

 of brooms from the brush and the consumption of the seed 

 when ground and mixed with other grain, in feeding to fat- 

 tening or working cattle, sheep and swine, and occasionally 

 to horses. Brooms manufactured from it, have superseded 

 every other kind for general use in the United States, and 

 within a few years they have become an article of extensive 

 export to England and other countries. The brush and wood 

 for the handles are imported separately to avoid high duties, 

 and are there put together, and form a profitable branch of 

 agricultural commerce to those hitherto engaged in the traf- 

 fic. The cultivation of broom corn has, till quite recently, 

 been almost exclusively confined to the north-eastern states ; 

 but it is now largely raised in the western states. Their 

 fresh, rich soil, however, does not in general yield so fine, 

 tough and desirable a brush as that grown in the older culti- 

 vated soils. 



FLAX (Linum usiiatissimum.) 



This is one of the oldest cultivated plants of which we 

 have any record ; and its habitat or region of naturalization, 

 extends from the torrid to the frigid zones. Its long silken fibres 

 which come from the outer coating or bark of the stem, has 

 been used for the manufacture of linen, from time immemo- 

 rial. The absolute quantity at present grown, is probably 

 equal to that of any proceeding age ; but relatively, it is fall- 

 ing behind the product of cotton, which is rapidly on the in- 

 crease. Flax is still a profitable crop, for in addition to its use 

 a .- a material for clothing, the seed is of great value for its 

 oi 1 , and the food it yields to cattle, and for the latter purpose 

 the whole plant is some times fed with decided advantage. 



THE PROPER SOIL for flax, is a good alluvial or vegetable 

 loam, equally removed from a loose sand or tenacious clay. 

 In a very rich soil the fibre grows too coarse, and on a hard 

 soil, the crop will not make a profitable return. Fresh barn 

 yard manures are not suited to it and they should in all cases 

 where necessary for a proper fertility, be added to the pre- 

 ceeding crop. A rich sod which has long lain in pasture or 

 meadow, well plowed and rotted, is the best for it. Lime in 



