26 



FLAX CULTURE 



It is estimated that in 1883 seventy-five 

 million pounds of straw were grown in 

 Ohio, though but two and a half million 

 pounds of fibre are returned, five or six 

 pounds of straw producing one of fibre. 

 The remainder of the straw was burnt. 

 The rapid decrease of the production in 

 Ohio is shown most strikingly by referring 

 to the figures from a few counties. 



New York was once a large flax-growing 

 region ; and a similar comparison by coun- 

 ties shows the history of flax in New York, 

 the figures being taken from the United- 

 States census. 



