140 



THE GENESEE FARMER! 



0. N. Bement, in an article written for the Rural 

 Annual and Horticultural Directory for 1859, men- 

 tions the same fact. Speaking of the American 

 wild goose, he says : 



" This bird, by all foreign writers, is called the 

 Canada goose. Most writers on poultry call it a 

 variety of the common goose ; but it is no more a 

 variety of goose than the swan, which it greatly 

 resembles. Cuvier seems to doubt whether it is a 

 goose at all, and says it can not properly be sepa- 

 rated from the true swans. We once possessed a 

 wild gander that had been pinioned by a shot in 

 the wing, which mated with a common domestic 

 goose, and we bred trom them for more than ten 

 years ; hut their produce was not fruitful, although 

 they laid eggs. The hybrids never showed any 

 disposition to pair or mate with either the wild or 

 domestic goose. They partake largely of the wild 

 habits, and if their wings are not clipped spring 

 and fall (and more particularly the in spring), they 

 are very apt to fly away and not return. 



"We annex an excellent portrait of the wild 



American goose, 



CULTIVATION OF FLAX. 



An unusual interest is felt at the present time, 

 both in this country and Canada, in regard to the 

 culture of flax. 



That our soil and climate are well adapted to the 

 growth of flax, there can be no doubt. Russia, 

 with a climate in many respects similar to that of 

 the United States, is the greatest flax producing 

 country in the world. The only drawback we can 

 perceive to its extensive culture is the high price 

 of labor as compared with Russia and other great 

 flax-growing countries. But, as the introduction 

 of improved machinery has enabled our farmers to 

 overcome this difficulty in the cultivation of other 

 crops, we see no reason to doubt that such will be 

 the case in the cultivation of flax and the prepara- 

 tion of the fibre for market. 



Flax can be grown on a wide range of soils — 

 from heavy clays down to those of a mucky char- 

 acter. Sandy loams in good condition and alluvial 

 soils are best suited to its production. In Ireland, 

 large crops are sometimes grown on peat-bog 

 lands with a clay subsoil. A deep, open soil, either 

 naturally or artificially underdrained, is very essen- 

 tial, as the fibrous roots ramify through the soil in 

 all directions and not unfrequently to the depth of 

 two or three feet. 



Flax is supposed to be an exhausting crop. We 

 do not think that this is especially the case. It 

 likes a rich soil, however, and large crops can only 

 be grown with good tilth and clean culture. 



It is thought best to plow the land in the fall, 

 and get it as clean and as fine as possible, and then 



to sow the seed in the spring without plowing — 

 merely cultivating the land. One advantage claim- 

 ed for this practice, is that the flax can be sown 

 earlier in the spring. 



If grown for fibre, early sowing is more impor- 

 tant than if grown merely for seed. In this coun- 

 try, especially in Ohio, a large amount of flax ia 

 sown merely for the seed. When this is the case, 

 it need not be sown before May, and the prepara- 

 tion of the land is not of so much importance. 

 For either fibre or seed, it should not be sown till 

 the land is in good working condition. Some prefer 



FLAX PLANT AND ROOT. 



to turn over a clover sod immediately before sowing 

 In this way, the plants get the start of the weeds. 

 In Belgium flax generally follows oats, and the land 

 is seeded down with the flax. Sometimes carrots 

 are sown with the flax. 



If grown for fibre, thick seeding is necessary. 

 Two bushels of seed per acre is the usual quantity. 

 In Europe it is generally drilled in, and the crop is 

 afterward carefully weeded. In this country it is- 

 generally sown broadcast. It is essential to cover 

 the seed at an even depth, as uniformity in the ri- 

 pening of the crop is important. 



When sown merely for the seed, much thinner 

 seeding is required. From three pecks to a bushel 

 per acre is ample. 



