38 FLAX. 



early, they gather the besb flax. I believe tliat the seed-time 

 for flax may be hastened a little in many localities, by 

 working the land deeper, and breaking it up finely, in 

 order to allow the moisture to penetrate more easily, and 

 to facilitate the passage of the roots downwards" These 

 roots, it is asserted, reach a depth equal to half the 

 height which the flax attains above the surface of the 

 earth." 



Whether late or early sowing be adopted, it will be as 

 well to have the field kept by women and children to 

 scare away the birds till the crop is up. 



The French growers say, that flax never comes so well 

 as it ought when the land is manured with the dung of 

 sheep, which has been carted away from the fold, the 

 farm -yard, or the sheep-house, and then spread over the 

 surface of the field. What is curious is, that flax does 

 come well after a flock of sheep have been folded upon 

 the spot. It is the urine, they correctly judge, rather 

 than the dung, which does the good. The species of 

 manure which is relied on beybnd any other upon all the 

 light soils throughout Flanders, is liquid manure, which 

 they carefully preserve in cellars, cisterns, subterranean 

 vaults, and even in covered tanks conveniently placed 

 along the road sides. It is made to do wonders in the 

 market gardens ; for instance, at B/osendael, in the envi- 

 rons of Duiikerque. Even upon strong lands, originally 

 so rich as to preclude the necessity for manure, it is now 

 held in great esteem, being considered applicable to most 

 crops, and to every variety of soil. The crop upon which 

 it is, however, chiefly bestowed, is flax, for which they 

 are profuse, usually allowing at the rate of 2,480 gallons, 

 beer measure, to the English acre. The field after two 

 or three ploughings and harrowings, is backed up in the 

 centre, and ploughed round in but one set, so as to leave 

 it without any furrow. A heavy roller is then drawn 

 across the ploughing by three horses, the manure is 

 spread equally over the entire surface, and, when well 

 harrowed in by eight or nine strokes of the harrow, the 

 seed is sown, which is also harrowed in by a light harrow, 



