MONTANA CROPS 



33 



FLAX. 



Favorable market values and the farmers' need for cash caused an expansion in the 

 acreage devoted to flax in 1923. Most of the state's flax is grown in the northeast 

 quarter of the state, but a small amount is scattered over most of the plains area, except 

 the central and south central sections. The factors which affected wheat so adversely 

 in the east did less injury to the flax, and yields w^ere fairly good, in fact the best 

 since 1916. Market prices held up so that some profit was realized from flax sales, 

 and there promises to be a heavy increase in the flax acreage in 1924. 



Distnbufion o f fL 



' f92J-l/0.000 



POTATOES. 



A decided reduction in the acreage of commercial potatoes occurred in 1923, less 

 marked in Ravalli, Flathead, and Blain counties than in others. The major part of 

 the commercial potato fields are located in the western counties. Average yields in 1923 

 were not up to average, even on irrigated lands. Growers are giving more attention to 

 the use of good seed, and to the production of certified seed for local and outside 

 markets. The results of the past two years indicate an expansion in this field. 



CARLOT SHIPMENTS OF MONTANA POTATOES. 



1923 574 (to Apr. 12, 1924) 



1922 1061 (to Apr. 14, 1923) 



1922 _ 1412 (total shipments) 



1921 1838 (total shipments) 



1920 : 932 (total shipments) 



