180 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



ashes, and I think with decided benefit to tlie crop. The flax 

 grew finely until checked by the drouth, which caused the crop 

 to mature earlier, growing very upright and making few lateral 

 branches, and less seed bolls, and perhaps two-thirds its usual 

 height. After the abundant rains the flax matured, but in the 

 meantime the weeds came forward with almost gppalling rapidity, 

 rendering the crop unsightly in appearance, and increasing the 

 labor in pulling the flax. I am fully persuaded that cultivating 

 in drills would be attended by the most successful and profitable 

 results, as the flax could be kept free of weeds in its earlier 

 stages of growth, the crop would be largely increased and 

 harvested with great economy of time and labor. I commenced 

 pulling when the stalk was a brownish tinge, the leaves fallen, 

 and the seed bolls of a brown color. The result of my experi- 

 ment is as follows : — 



Time required to pull one square rod, one hour and ten min- 

 utes. Weight of clear fibre per rod, 19^ pounds ; per acre, 

 2,080 pounds. Weight of clean seed per rod, 2 pounds and 4 

 ounces ; per acre, 360 pounds. Total weight of clean fibre and 

 seed per acre, 2,440 pounds. 



Worcester, September, 1863. 



The following circular issued by the society, is appended to 

 this report, containing as it does valuable information, from 

 reliable authority on the subject. 



Cultivation op Flax. 



Worcester Agricultural Society, Secretary's Office, \ 

 Worcester, April 15, 1863. ) 



Dear Sir : — The subject of raising flax in Worcester County 

 has of late received a large share of attention ; and the Worces- 

 ter Agricultuaal Society has offered' premiums for the best 

 eKperiment upon it. There is a difficulty however in the minds 

 of many farmers, arising from a want of familiarity -with this 

 product. To remove this difficulty! have requested C. H. Waters, 

 Esq., of Groton, who has had a large experience, having been 

 engaged in the cultivation of flax for several years, to furnish 

 me for the use of our members, brief practical directions for the 

 preparation of soils, and manner of treatment of the crop in its 

 various stages. These directions may be found below, and are 



