SEED. 13 



While the first of these causes can be removed through more careful husbandry, the 

 second demands, imperatively, a total renewal of seed for sowing. Flax seed has become 

 completely degenerated. Since its first introduction into the United States it has never been 

 renewed, save, perhaps, in a few localities to a limited extent, and the result of long con- 

 tinued careless culture is seen in the present diminished yield which is so exceedingly 

 unsatisfactory and mortifying to every intelligent American farmer cognizant of the facts. 



Nor is it alone in quantity of seed produced that the degeneracy in Flax culture in 

 America is exhibited. The oil-producing quality of the seed has also declined to a very 

 serious extent. Oil crushers assert that Western seed produces one-third less oil than 

 that imported from Bombay and Calcutta, and hence its price is only about one -half of that 

 paid for seed imported from British India. 



In order, therefore, to rehabilitate Flax culture in this country, bringing it up again to 

 the state from which it has fallen, both as regards its yield per acre and its oil-producing 

 quality, so that it may successfully compete with the foreign product, placing it on a par as 

 regards its market value, it has become indispensable to sow entirely new seed which has 

 been grown in a wholly different soil, and with special reference to this object. 



Of the foreign seeds which have stood the test of many years experience, and have 

 given the most satisfactory results, the Dutch and Russian seeds stand pre-eminent. In 

 those European countries where Flax raising has been a chief industry from time immemorial, 

 ajid where it has been brought to a high state of perfection, notably in Ireland, Belgium, 

 Holland, Germany and France, fresh seed is annually imported from those countries which 

 produce the best seed for the purpose. Ireland, for example, imports every year the entire 

 quantity required for sowing, from Russia and Holland. The total quantity imported in 

 1880 and 1 88 1, respectively, was 311,861 bushels, and the total acreage appropriated to 

 Flax in the years named was 157,534 an d 147,085 acres respectively, thus allowing about 

 two bushels of seed per acre. 



Holland, whose seed is highly esteemed for its superior quality and great purity, likewise 

 imports her sowing seed from Russia and sells her own seed at remunerative prices to her 

 neighbors. Belgium, France and Germany annually import Dutch and Russian seed for 

 sowing. Thus a regular and constant interchange is taking place in those countries. 

 Experience has demonstrated that by this means the best crops are oroduced both in respect 

 to seed and fiber. 



It is therefore a matter of vital importance, especially in the western states ; that there 

 should be a radical change inaugurated in the character of the Flax seed used for sowing in 

 this country. This cannot be done too soon. Thus only can Flax culture be reclaimed 

 from the lamentable state of degeneracy into which it has fallen. 



The present mode of cultivating Flax for the seed only is greatly to be deprecated, and 

 I would commend the following extract from the words of a competent writer on this 

 subject, to the serious consideration of all who are interested in Flax cultivation. 



" The pursuit of the crop for the seed only, will never secure the firm establishment of 

 " Flax culture. The additional inducement of a production of the valuable fiber is neces- 

 "sarytomake Flax culture a leading farm interest. Crops of Flax seed may be grown 

 "with poor cultivation and scanty sowing when the straw will be worthless from its coarse- 

 " ness, and the weakness of the lint, and from the admixture of grass and weeds. To ob- 

 " tain Flax of the highest value for the seed only it is essential that the cultivation be con- 

 "ducted with special reference to the production of the largest yield of good fiber in the 

 " straw. This conclusion is justified by the fact that the average product of Flax seed per 

 "acre in those districts in the Eastern states where Flax is grown more especially for the 

 "lint, is greater than at the West where the seed only has been the object of cultivation, 



