14 FLAX CULTURE 



' ' while at the same time the quality of the Eastern seed is superior. The carelessness of 

 " management attendant upon growing this crop for the seed, in connection with thin sow 

 ' ' ing, tends to deteriorate the quality of the Flax seed for oil making, as well as for the 

 "production of lint." 



The foregoing, although written twenty years ago, is applicable even with greater 

 emphasis, to the present state of Flax culture in the West, than at the time it was written, 

 and the conclusions drawn by the writer are proved to be literally correct, and justified by 

 facts easily verified by any one who is interested to examine the statistics. 



It is important that the misconception so widely prevalent, that seed must be sown 

 thinly when Flax is grown especially for its seed product, should be removed. Let it be 

 fully understood that it is by no means necessary to neglect the liber in order to obtain the 

 largest yield of seed, and this of good quality. 



It only requires careful and intelligent culture to place the Flax crop upon a satisfactory 

 basis, and render it in the near future one of the most remunerative of all farm crops. 



HOW TO SOW. 



After the land has been carefully prepared, (according to the hints already given in this 

 paper,) and after removing all the stones (except the small ones which will do no harm) it 

 would be well to give it a final harrowing and rolling before putting in the seed. The ob- 

 ject of this is to have the surface of the ground as smooth and level as it can be made, so 

 that the Flax may get an even start, and grow uniformly, in order that harvesting may be 

 facilitated (if a Mower and Self-binder is employed), and also to secure the greatest length 

 of straw possible by cutting low to the ground. 



If the sowing is upon an uneven surface, where there are lumps, clods, furrows and 

 holes, much of the seed will be covered too deeply, and consequently the growth of the 

 straw will not be uniform, nor will the seed mature at the same time. If there are no 

 lumps, however, the roller need not be used. But the ground should be gone over with a 

 harrow having numerous small teeth. Where the soil has been cultivated as it should be 

 for the preceding crop of Indian corn, potatoes or barley, the surface will be as mellow and 

 free from lumps as a neatly prepared carrot bed. On such soils, with selected seed, Flax 

 will grow from 3 to 4 feet in length, the seed will be of superior quality, and the lint will be 

 heavy and of good length. 



Sow on the rolled surface, and while it is still fresh, because Flax, like other seed, will 

 more quickly germinate under such conditions than if put into soil that has lain undisturbed 

 for a number of days. The soil should not be at all adhesive or sticky when the sowing is 

 done. A favorable time is when the weather is calm and dry, if shortly after a shower all 

 the better, when the lumps of dirt will crumble at a very slight touch, and the entire surface 

 is friable and mellow. Then the seed, germinating in a few days, will get the start of 

 weeds, and easily keep the ascendancy throughout the period of growth. By this means 

 much weeding will be saved, the fiber be more abundant, the seed of better quality, and the 

 yield of both products be greater. 



As Flax seed is much more difficult to sow than most other kinds of seed on account of 

 being so very slippery, it is very important that, if the sowing be done by hand, an expe- 

 rienced sower should be employed. It is of prime importance that the seed be sown evenly, 

 and doubtless this can be accomplished more readily and surely by the use of a " Broadcast 

 Seed Sower," one of the inventions of late years,* which will ensure more even sowing than 



* " Cakoon's Broadcast Seed So-wer " is especially recommended for this purpose. Price $6.00. For 

 sale by Hiram Sibley & Co. 



