242 FLAX 



Culture. Flax will grow well in both dry and humid climates, 

 but in general rather dry climates produce the best seed crops, while 

 best fiber is grown in rather cool and humid climates, where condi- 

 tions are favorable for a long growing season. 



Flax requires rather rich productive soils, especially for fiber 

 production. 



Flax is least adapted of all the cereal crops to compete with 

 weeds, as it is a slow growing, fine stemmed plant, with fine leaves, 

 and shades the ground very little. This is one reason why it is grown 





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Fia. 90. Flaxseed balls. 



on newly broken prairie soils, as they are usually quite free from 

 weeds the first year or two. Flax also does relatively better on raw 

 new land than other crops, and its culture in general has followed 

 the breaking up of the prairie lands. On old soils the principal con- 

 sideration in preparing the land for flax is to free the soil from weeds. 

 Flax is sensitive to frost and should be sown when all danger is 

 over. It is generally sown rather late, from the first to middle of 

 June. For seed growing, flax is sown rather thin, or at the rate of 



