GROWING THE CROP 303 



of the seeds for oil and for stock feed. Wherever flax has been 

 grown in different parts of the world, plants are found to spread 

 from self-sown seed, and will run wild everywhere. 



World Producers of Flax. The crop was early introduced into 

 the northern states and Canada where it is now abundantly grown. 



Russia grows nearly four-fifths of the world's supply of flax 

 about one million tons. The Argentine Republic produces the 

 greatest amount of flax seed, the United States ranking second. 

 North Dakota is by far the largest flax producing state. Minne- 

 sota and South Dakota each produce nearly one-half as much. 

 The last census shows one and one-half million acres for North 

 Dakota with an average yield of about eight and one-half bushels 

 of seed per acre. 



Description. Flax is an annual plant with a rigid upright 

 stem and a rather straight tap root. If grown thickly there will 

 be very few side branches on the roots and stems. The mature 

 plants reach a height of one to two feet, depending upon the soil, 

 season or variety. The flowers are five-parted with light blue 

 petals, followed by a large seed case in which a number of seeds 

 are borne. The leaves are narrow and pointed. 



Growing the Crop. Flax is seldom grown on old soil. It is 

 well adapted to virgin prairie soil of the northwestern states and 

 Canada. After a number of crops are grown, the yield rapidly 

 becomes less, and wheat or grain is then grown. The reduction 

 in yield is attributed to flax diseases rather than to loss of fertility 

 of the soil. 



In preparing the soil, the sod is killed by turning over in thin 

 slices. This is preferably done in the late fall preceding the plant- 

 ing. In early spring, a disk harrow may be used to cut up the 

 surface, and the seed is drilled with the ordinary grain drill. If 

 the plowing is not done until spring, the planting should be fol- 

 lowed with a roller to repack the soil as the crop grows best in a 

 firm seed-bed. 



Well-cleaned seed should be obtained for seeding, and about 

 three pecks to the acre should furnish a good stand of plants, if 

 the main purpose of the crop is the production of seed. On the 

 other hand, if the object is to produce fibre, about eight to ten 

 pecks of seed is sown. As flax is susceptible to frost, it is sown as 

 early in the spring as possible to escape injury from spring frosts, 

 and is harvested in the fall in time to escape the early fall frosts. 

 A period of about 10 days is the minimum in which the crop may 

 be produced. 



