388 



THE FORAGE AND FIBER CROPS IN AMERICA 



varying in color from yellow to dark brown, light brown being 

 the standard color. The Minnesota Station found no ap- 

 preciable difference between light brown and dark brown flax 

 seeds either in general chemical composition, properties of the 

 oil, or germinating power. 1 The average germination of flax 

 seeds is about 85 per cent. The Canada Station found the 

 decrease in viability during five years to be as follows: 81, 82, 

 75, 49, and 26 per cent. 



The cells of the epidermis or seed coat are filled with a 

 mucilaginous material readily viscid in hot water, which gives 

 flax seed its value in medicine. Flax seed has a large, straight, 

 oily embryo consisting of two long, thick cotyledons and a short 

 radicle. The endosperm which surrounds the embryo is com- 

 paratively thin, and in mature seeds contains no starch. The 

 seed is characterized by its high percentage of protein and oil, 

 20 to 25 per cent, of the former, and from 30 to 39 per cent, 

 of the latter. The average composition of the flax seed and 

 of old and new process linseed meal is as follows: 



Flax is grown in America almost exclusively for its seed, 

 from which is obtained an oil highly prized for paint and 

 varnish on account of its quality of drying quickly. The oil 

 is obtained by crushing the seed and heating it to 165 F., after 

 which it is either (i) placed between cloths or in sacks and 



i Minnesota Sta. Bui. No. 90 (1905), p. 226. 



