272 THE FLAX CROP. 



up with it would not only materially lessen and lower the 

 value of the produce, but stock the land to the prejudice 

 of after crops. The best plan to pursue is to obtain 

 foreign seed sufficient merely to reproduce the quantity ot 

 seed required for the flax crop, and to sow this separately in 

 wider drills, not less than 12 inches apart, so that it may 

 be kept entirely free from weeds, and thus furnish a clean 

 sample for the crop of the following year. This practice 

 is generally followed in Belgium and in Ireland, where it 

 is commonly known and sold as seed " one year from the 

 barrel." The seed varies of course considerably in price ; 

 the Eiga is, however, always the dearest; the Dutch and 

 American being offered at a lower price, are consequently 

 preferred by some growers. 



The quantity of seed used is from 1 to 2 bushels per acre. 

 In Belgium about 1^ cwt. is usually sown. Where flax 

 is grown principally for its fibre, a larger quantity of seed 

 is used than when the seed produce is the chief object of 

 cultivation. In the former case, by thick sowing the plant is 

 induced to throw up a tall slender stem, with only one or 

 two small branches towards the top, and thus increase its 

 amount of stems and fibre at the expense of its seed ; in 

 the latter case, the plants being fewer in number have 

 more space, and a better access to air and light ; a more 

 vigorous growth is induced, side shoots are thrown out, 

 surmounted in due course by flowers and seed-pods, while 

 the stems, owing to the branching habit of the plant, are 

 only fit for an inferior sample, and of course fetch a lower 

 price in the market when sold for steeping purposes. In 

 England, where the practice of drilling is well-nigh uni- 

 versal, the seed is deposited by the ordinary drill of the 

 farm. This practice is largely followed in Ireland, though 

 by far the larger portion is still sown broadcast, which is 

 the common mode still pursued in Belgium and other flax- 

 growing countries. For this method an increased propor- 



