FOR THE CULTURE OF FLAX. 159 
The light seeds and chaff form most wholesome and nutritious feeding for 
cattle. Flax ought not to be allowed to stand in the field, if possible, even 
the second day; it should be rippled as soon as pulled, and carried to the 
water as soon as possible, that it may not harden. 
Though immediate rippling is thus recommended as the general practice, 
it may not be convenient in all situations to adopt it. We, therefore, add 
directions for stooking from other authors. 
“Flax is always pulled up by the roots: these handfuls are usually laid 
across each other, and subsequently bound up into small sheaves; these are 
set up in circular stooks, the butts of each being spread out as much as 
possible, to allow the air to have free access to them: there they remain 
until sufficiently dried ; they are then either stacked in the field or at the 
homestead, or the seed is separated at once, and then merely the stem or 
straw stacked.” (Wilson.) “The drying must be sufficient to prevent their 
heating. They must then be tied up in small sheaves or beets, and then 
carted home.” (Nichol.) 
“Many different modes, both of stacking and separating the seeds, exist : 
probably, the cheapest and most efficient is to pass the straw through plain 
rollers, which crush the capsule and let the straw pass through uninjured.” 
(Wilson.) “The seed is separated from the capsule, or ‘boll,’ by winnowing, 
and the straw remains to be stacked in the usual way.” (Nichol.) 
Under favorable circumstances we may expect an average crop to produce 
from 30 cwt. to 40 cwt. of straw, and 12 to 16 bushels of seed, to the acre. 
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON CULTURE OF FLAX. 
From these various details respecting the culture of Flax in 
the localities where it succeeds best or is most extensively 
cultivated, we become acquainted with the points requiring 
most attention. We learn that though one of the crops 
occupying a shorter time than most others, it is, like these, 
liable to failure, and from causes often beyond our control. 
Of these, the most important appears to be climate ; as, of this, 
the temperature should be moderate, and the moisture, though 
not excessive, yet abundant and continuous, except at the period 
of gathering the crop. We also learn that though sandy 
loams and alluvial soils appear best suited to its cultivation, 
which water may permeate and the roots spread through it 
in every direction ; yet the soil ought to be able to retain mois- 
ture sufficiently to benefit the plant, and not let it run off at 
once, as some open soils do. Manure in many soils is useful ; but 
in others, or when a large quantity is applied, the Flax is apt 
to grow coarse. Then it will not yield a fine fibre, and is apt 
to be lost from the weakness of the stem. Hence, it seems to 
succeed best after a corn crop which has been manured, or on 
recently turned-up ground. The soil requires to be well tilled, 
and brought to a level, in order that the Flax plants may all 
