CHAPTER III 



CLIMATE AND SOIL 



22. Climatic Conditions. 23. Soil. 24. Environment and Crop 

 Production. 25. Variety of Growth due to Differences in Soil. 

 26. Variety of Growths on the same Land due to Soil Moisture. 

 27. Exhaustion of Soil. 28. Rotation of Crops. 



22. Climatic Conditions. The natural or climatic conditions 

 under which flax is grown materially influence the growth of 

 woody matter, fibre and seed. A temperate and equable 

 climate free from heavy rains and frost, interspersed with 

 frequent moist winds, as when near the sea coast, are desirable 

 factors. 



Flax seed, sown on well-prepared soil, about the end of 

 April, followed by a showery May, rapidly germinates.' The 

 growth of the plant is uniformly continuous if the weather 

 during June and the first half of July is warm with occasional 

 showers of rain. Warm dry weather during the remaining 

 days of July and maturing period are the chief climatic factors 

 which materially contribute towards an excellent flax crop. 



Atmospheric phenomena should be studied in the locality 

 where it is proposed to grow flax and thus the grower will be 

 able to anticipate and combat every difficulty of weather in 

 such a manner as to produce the very best results under the 

 local circumstances. It may have originally been accidental 

 both in Ireland and on the Continent of Europe, but it is 

 significant, that the location of flax cultivation is generally 

 near to the sea coast, and where the climatic conditions are 

 more equable in temperature and moisture during the flax 

 growing period of the year. 



Cool and, other things being equal, moderately moist 

 seasons favour the production of flax which is fine and strong 

 in fibre accompanied with silkiness in handle and appearance. 

 A hot dry summer contributes to the production of a short, 



21 



