CULTURE OF FLAX IN THE PUNJAB. 195 
Suggestions regarding the improvement in, and increase of, the cultivation 
of Flax, or Linseed plant, for the sake of its fibre. 
1st.—It is to be made generally known that a premium, of Rs, 500, has been 
sanctioned by the Supreme Government of India, to be given for the largest 
area of land that may be appropriated, in the Punjab and the Cis- and 
Trans-Sutlej States, to the culture of Flax, during the season of 1854-55, 
being not less than 25 acres in any one village. 
2d.—A second premium, of Rs. 350, has been similarly authorised, for the 
next largest area so cultivated, being not less than 20 acres, in any one 
village, and— 
3d.—A third premium, of Rs. 200, is to be granted for the third largest 
piece, being not less than 15 acres in any one village; that is to say, the 
Government will award the first premium to any one land-holder, or village 
community of land-holders, who may, in his or their own village, cultivate, 
for the production of Flax fibre, ground aggregating, in the whole, 25 acres, 
or as much upwards as the owners may choose. 
Moreover, the Government of India have sanctioned the purchase, on 
behalf of the Society, of the entire crop of merchantable Flax, including the 
fibre, if of the required length, that may be produced in the Punjab, and to 
pay for it at the current market rate of the Flax seed, with 25 per cent. 
added for the fibre. 
It is to be a condition that not less than sixty Company’s seers of Flax 
seed, be sown on each begah, cultivated with a view to competition; and 
that the growers be informed that Government is prepared to purchase the 
whole of the seed, and likewise the fibre, if of the proper quality, on the 
terms above stated, but that the authorities be instructed not to purchase 
such produce unless it measure, in the stem, three and a half feet in length 
or more; that it be well dried, and the seed just on the point of ripening, 
but not so ripe as to allow of its falling out of the pod by the way. 
The directions for cultivation are as follow: If the following instructions 
are strictly attended to, there is no doubt that the Flax will all be of the 
required length of staple. Not less than sixty seers of Flax must be sown, 
broadcast, that is with the hand, on each begah, as the thicker it is sown the 
longer will be the plant, and the more free it will be from branches, which 
are very injurious. The land must be thoroughly freed from weeds by 
repeated ploughings, previous to sowing; it must be well manured with the 
richest manure procurable, such as is given to land for tobacco; be 
smoothed, and divided into beds as for wheat. The seed must be 
sown between the Ist and 15th November, but not later. The Flax 
land must be watered as frequently as wheat-land ; and the fields must be 
kept perfectly free from weeds until the Flax is six or seven inches high. 
After that, no more weeding will be required. The land selected should be 
light loamy soil; Khadir land is the best. When the seed begins to show 
signs of ripening, the Flax must be pulled gently by the root, and laid on 
the ground to dry in rows. When thoroughly dry, it must be tied up in 
bundles as large as a man can conveniently span with both hands, and it can 
thus be easily measured. The seed can be stripped off (rippled) on arrival 
of the consignment at Lahore, and the final price be arranged according to 
the current rate of Linseed in the Lahore market. That is, if the successful, 
or any other, competitor (all Flax will be bought that is of the required 
length, whether a premium have been awarded for it or not), who may 
deliver Flax, yielding 125 maunds of Linseed, will, if, as at present, the nerik 
be Rs. 2 8 a maund, receive Rs. 312 8 for the seed, and 25 per cent., or 
Rs. 78 2, additional, as compensation for the fibre, or Rs. 390 10 in all, — 
It is to be understood that successful competitors are to be paid for their 
crop as well as others; but that no cultivators are bound to sell, should they 
wish to dispose of their crop in any other manner. 
