160 GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON 
grow of the same length. In Great Britain and Ireland drain- 
ing is most important, but in India, facilities for irrigation will 
be not less so. It ought to be freed from weeds as much as 
possible ; and there is no fear of the land becoming exhausted, if 
the modern methods of culture and of preparation are adopted, 
In selecting seed, considerable care is necessary, though, 
perhaps, too much importance is attached to foreign seed.’ 
The interchange of seed is useful for all crops, and, therefore, 
is no doubt beneficial for Flax; but it is a question whether 
it should be carried to the extreme extent of always using 
foreign seed, or limited to only using it occasionally. Some 
prefer Riga seed; others, that which has been obtained as the 
first crop from such seed. Dutch seed is preferred by others, 
especially for heavy soils. American seed is not generally ap- 
proved of in this country; but it has succeeded well in India. 
Excellent crops have been grown in Ireland, from seed saved 
from the Russian; and it is recommended by Mr. M‘Adam and 
others, that enough of the foreign seed should be produced 
annually, to raise seed for sowing the crop of the following 
year. In Norfolk and Essex, Flax has been grown year after 
year from seed produced in the country, and good crops have 
continued to be obtained. Mr. Nichol says that the seed 
may be either home-grown or foreign—Flax equally good 
being raised from both; but an occasional use of Dutch, 
Belgian, or Riga is recommended as affording the completest 
change; but that the seed “grown in England appears to be 
the best, both from its great weight and freedom from weeds.” 
Early sowing is especially recommended, and Mr. Wilson 
considers that even autumn sowing might be suitable in some 
localities ; but the time of sowing must, of course, depend 
entirely on the season which is to follow for the growth of the 
crop; and must be very different in Egypt from what it is in 
Riga seed is imported in barrels, containing 33 bushels, and covered with a 
coarse linen bag. The barrels are branded in Russia by officers named brackers, who 
classify the seed, as it arrives from the interior, under the terms “sowing seed,” 
“rejected sowing seed,” and “crushing seed.” But, notwithstanding this, Riga seed 
usually contains from 15 to 20 per cent. of the seeds of weeds, and therefore requires 
to be carefully sifted. Dutch seed is seldom adulterated. It comes in old wine- 
hogsheads, containing 7 bushels each. 
Riga seed varies in price from 7s. to 16s. per bushel; and Dutch from 7s. to 13s. 6d. 
per bushel. (M‘Adam.) 
