44 



FLAX CULTURE AND PREPARATION 



purposes only. In such cases the flax plants grow up in greater 

 numbers, erect and singularly free from branching ; each 

 straight stalk is characterised by a series of small leaves 

 alternating and radiating at intervals from the root to near 

 the top of the stem which carries only a few seed bolls. 



In Belgium an average of 2 bushels per acre is sown on light 

 soils. In France, on a loamy soil, about 2| bushels are sown 

 per acre, and on the reclaimed land (polder) in Holland as 

 much as 3 bushels for the same area. 



46. Tabulated Sowing Data. The Department of Agricul- 

 ture and Technical Instruction for Ireland advise sowing the 

 following quantities of flax seed. The abstract table given 

 herewith is adapted to meet the requirements of the different 

 farmers and flax growers according to their accustomed sowing 

 for known quality of seed, conditions of climate, locality, and 

 previous experience, based on an approximate germination of 

 seed of 95 per cent. 



And pro rata for any other germination. 



N.B. One statute acre contains 4,840 sq. yds. 



Irish 7,840 



Statute 5 X 5J yds. = 30 sq. yds. = 1 pole or perch. 

 Irish 7 X 7 = 49 =1 



Then 30 J X 40 X 4 = 4,840 sq. yds. = 1 statute acre, 

 and 49 X 40 X 4 = 7,840 =1 Irish acre. 



DRY MEASURE OR TABLE OF QUANTITIES. 



4 gills = 1 pint; 2 pints = 1 quart. 



4 quarts = 1 gallon; 2 gallons = 1 peck. 



4 pecks = 1 bushel; 3 bushels = 1 bag of flax seed. 



