CHAPTER XXVIII 

 FLAX 



FLAX is one of the oldest cultivated crops, since its value as a 

 fiber plant was discovered very early by mankind. 



The great use of flaxseed as a source of oil is largely a modern 

 development, while the use of flax fiber has declined since the 

 development of cotton culture. 



Importance of the Crop. At present most of the world's flax 

 crop (Fig. 88) is grown for oil rather than fiber. 



Production of Flax, 1907-1908-1909 

 Country Flaxseed, bushels Flax fiber, pounds 



Argentine 39,042,000 



United States 25,504,000 



Russia 21,089,000 1,542,600,000 



India 11,814,600 



Other countries 5,768,000 235,000,000 



World 103,8(17,600 



In North America flax culture has largely followed the breaking 

 up of new prairie lands, being especially adapted to grow on new sod 

 lands. The three leading States for the years 1907-1908-1909 were : 



North Dakota 13,867,000 bushels 



South Dakota 5,441,600 bushels 



Minnesota 4,668,000 bushels 



These States produce about 90 per cent of the United States flax 

 crop (Fig. 89). Flax culture is also developing rapidly in the new 

 territory of Canada. 



Description. The Latin name of flax is Linum, from which we 

 get our words line, linen, lint, and linseed. Botanists recognize 135 

 species of plants belonging to the flax family, but only one of these 

 has been brought under cultivation as a farm crop, though several are 

 cultivated as ornamentals. 



The common flax has bright blue flowers, but there is also a white 

 flowered sort, sometimes called Dutch flax. Flax is a slender 

 branching plant, eighteen to thirty-six inches high, terminated by 

 numerous "seed balls" (Fig. 90), each normally containing ten 

 seeds. 



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