Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 287 



A well-known annual, which yields linen-fibre and linseed-oil. Few 

 plants find a wider congeniality of soil and climate, and few give a 

 quicker return. Good and deep soil, also of forests, well-drained, is 

 best for successful flax-culture. Mr. S. Warren obtained on virgin 

 soil, near the Tambo-River, from 7 acres of land, 2 tons of seeds and 

 2^ tons of fibre, cultivating the Italian variety, the produce selling at 

 126. In the Goulburn- Valley the plant has grown 4 feet in 8 

 weeks [J. Williams]. In Norway it is cultivated as far north as 

 lat. 70 3' [Prof. Schuebeler]. The flax belongs to the Potash-plants. 

 Change of seed-grain is desirable. When flax-seeds are imported 

 from Eastern Europe and Western Asia great care should be taken 

 that they are free from the seeds of an overpowering weed, Salsola 

 Tragus, L. Seeds of other weeds, such as Dodder and Camelina 

 sativa, should also be sifted out as much as possible. Thick sowing 

 extends the length and flexibility of the fibre. To obtain the best 

 fibre, the plant must be pulled when the seeds commence to ripen. If 

 the seeds are allowed in part to mature, then both fibre and seeds 

 may be turned to account. If the seed is left to ripen completely, 

 the fibre is inferior. The seed yields by pressure about 22 per cent, 

 of oil. The residue can either be prepared as linseed-meal or be 

 utilised as admixture to stable-fodder. The demand for both fibre 

 and oil is enormous. Two principal varieties are under culture ; a tall 

 sort, with smaller flowers, closed capsules and dark seed ; a dwarf 

 sort, more branched (even if closely sown), with larger flowers and 

 capsules, the seed-vessels opening spontaneously and with elasticity, 

 while the seeds are of a pale colour. None of the perennial species 

 of Linum are so manageable in culture as the ordinary annual 

 Flax. The ordinary steeping method for separating the fibre is now 

 in many places superseded by the so-called dry process through 

 special machinery, resulting in gain of yield and strength. Again, 

 application of steam to the gathered plants, or the use of chemicals 

 have variously been introduced to free the fibre. For obtaining linseed 

 oil the expansive Bisulphide of Carbon can be used for driving the 

 last particles of oil out of the cake, as in the case of many other kinds 

 of oils. Great Britain imported in 1884 of Flax 80,000 tons, worth 

 over three million pounds sterling, and of Linseed 1,805,000 quarters, 

 valued at 3,832,000 ; during 1889 it was: Flax 1,587,422 cwt., 

 valued at 2,837,800 ; Linseed 2,269,495 quarters, valued at 

 4,570,203; and yet over 130,000 acres were under home-culture 

 devoted to this plant. In France, during 1885, the area under this 

 crop was 104,715 acres, producing 442,288 cwt. of seeds and 748,028 

 cwt. of fibre. In Holland, where the returns are most prolific, during 

 1884, were realized from 26,076 acres as much as 296,252 bushels of 

 seeds, and 107,557 cwt. of fibre. The annual yield of Linseed in 

 European Russia amounts to nearly 900,000 tons, and it is estimated 

 that the cultivation of the Flax plant yields to that country 23 mil- 

 lions sterling a year. The import into Victoria during 1887 was 

 5,300 cwt. of Flax, valued 4,879, and Linseed-oil 290,647 gallons, 

 valued 34,397. 



