SPECIAL CROPS. 235 



sliould also be made very mellow and even, to receive the 

 minute seeds. As soon as the ground is warm re-plow with a 

 light plow, sow one and one quarter bushels per acre of care- 

 fully selected and preserved seed, harrow it in and brush the 

 surface smooth. Cut when the stalks turn yellow and the 

 leaves begin to fall. 



Cutting hemp with a hemp-hook or grain cradle is very hard 

 work, but there is no reason why a reaper cannot be made 

 strong enough to do the work. Hemp is not a rapid exhauster 

 of the soil, the leaves and stubble aftbrding a good supply of 

 manure. An application of compost, one third barnyard to 

 two thirds muck, peat, or leaf mould, would keep the land in 

 good condition for years. A rotation, however, with corn, 

 wheat, or clover, is beneficial. 



Flax can be raised to advantage in all parts of the country. 

 There is always a good demand and a fair profit. It likes a 

 fertile loam, deep and mellow, but will not flourish on wet lands. 

 Underdraiuing is the first step on such lands, whatever crops 

 you propose to raise. The most important point in the cultiva- 

 tion of flax, is the preparation of the soil. It should be deep, 

 mellow, but compact, smooth, and clean. ISIo farm crop requires 

 more thorough preparation of the soil than this. Our remarks 

 on the preparation of soil for wheat, apply to this crop as well 

 and should be read here. As far as possible every weed should 

 be eradicated in cultivating the previous crops. Potatoes, corn, 

 or oats, are the crops recommended to precede flax; a good live 

 years' rotation is grass, corn, potatoes, flax, oats ; for seven years, 

 grass, corn, oats, potatoes, flax, clover, wheat. A third is com, 

 oats, potatoes, flax, clover, wheat. Once in five years is as 

 often as flax should be grown on the same soil. Thoroughly 

 rotted manure, rich compost and vegetable matter, applied to 

 the previous crops, is the rule in flax culture. Prepare the 



