FLAX CULTIVATION 99 



The most suitable soil for the flax crop is a moist, 

 well-drained, loamy or somewhat sandy soil, con- 

 taining a large proportion of organic matter. The 

 sub-soil should be rather compact and heavy and 

 retentive of moisture. 



CULTIVATION 



Land selected for flax growing should be level, as 

 an undulating surface by exposing some of the plants 

 and shading others tends to produce uneven stems, 

 and fibre of irregular quality. The preparation of 

 the land varies with the locality, the nature of the 

 soil, and the preceding crop. Lands on which a 

 cereal crop has been grown, and which are of a com- 

 pact nature are usually ploughed to a depth of from 

 6 to 8 inches in the autumn, and are harrowed and 

 rolled in the following spring to produce a satisfactory 

 seed-bed. In the case of light soils, deep ploughing 

 is sometimes injurious, and surface tillage for the 

 destruction of weeds is sufficient, the sub-soil thus 

 being left undisturbed. 



If the soil is poor, manurial treatment is necessary. 

 Direct manuring with farmyard manure is not recom- 

 mended, as it leads to the production of an uneven 

 crop and coarse stems. This manure, however, may 

 be applied indirectly with advantage, some other 

 crop being grown on the manured land before the flax 

 is planted. The refuse from the retting and scutching 

 processes and any flax stems not used for fibre should 

 be returned to the soil. Artificial manures may be 

 applied in accordance with the requirements of the 

 particular soils. Potash manures, especially in the 

 form of kainit, or chloride or sulphate of potash, have 

 been found to give good results, and it has been 

 observed that they also check the " yellowing " of 

 the flax crop, which is due to the fungus, Asterocystis 

 radicis. 



A flax crop should not be grown repeatedly on the 

 same land, but a rotation system should be adopted. 

 Suitable crops for such rotations are maize, oats, 

 clover, wheat, potatoes, and legumes. Only seed of 



