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GRAIN CROPS IlSrCLUDIlSrG FLAX. 



The Committee on Grain Crops report : 



That two entries for premium were made by Mr. S. A. Mer- 

 rill of Salem, one of Wheat and one of Rye. The Committee 

 find that Mr. Merrill's entry does not come within the rules of 

 the Society, requiring not less than one acre, his entry being 

 only about three-quarters of an acre. They regret that this is 

 so, as they regard the crops of Mr. Merrill well worthy of a 

 premium, the Rye being at the rate of 46 bushels per acre, and 

 the Wheat at the rate of 23 bushels per acre. 



Mr. E. G. Hyde of Danvers, entered one-quarter of an acre 

 of Flax for premium. 



The Committee are much gratified that our farmers in old 

 Essex County have commenced the raising of Flax, though up- 

 on a small scale, but the success of Mr. Hyde the Commit- 

 tee hope will be a stimulus to others to try the experiment of 

 Flax growing also. 



Fifty years ago, most of the farmers in the county raised 

 their own Flax sufficient for family use, and if the war contin- 

 ues and cotton should hold its high price as at present, all farm- 

 ers will be obliged to raise their own Flax for family use if no 

 more, and we believe it may be made a profitable crop. 



The State of Ohio and several other Western States have 

 gone largely into the cultivation of Flax, and we believe find it 

 a profitable crop. 



The Committee are of the opinion that if Mr. Hyde had 

 sowed fifteen pounds of seed instead of ten, his crop would 

 have been much better, and the flax of a finer texture, and 

 would have produced more than twelve hundred pounds to an 

 acre, after rotting, in its rough state. 



The Committee would recommend to the Trustees to contin- 

 ue the premium for the cultivation of Flax. 



Mr. Hyde has about two bushels of very fine seed from his 

 quarter of an acre, which is a very good yield, and at present 

 prices (five dollars per bushel) would bring forty dollars per 

 acre in addition to the value of the Flax. 



