294 



FLAX 



FLAX 



fruit, a capsule, 5-celled, 

 with 10 seeds. This species is the 

 only cultivated form of the flax 

 family (Linaceoe), except for orna- 

 ment, but some of the spedes so 

 closely resemble it that the hus- 

 bandman would be unable to recog- 

 nize any difl:erence. A large number 

 of species are recognized by botan- 

 ists. Bessey reports 135 species in 

 all, and 22 native to America. Some of these are 

 perennial. Many of them are of easy culture in an 

 open and warm place, where they are fully exposed 

 to the sun, giving attractive bloom. 



History. 



It is not definitely known to what country may 

 be attributed the origin of the flax plant. L. angusti- 

 folium is said to grow wild from Palestine to the 

 Canary islands. It is also reported as being the 

 species grown by the Swiss lake dwellers. L. usi- 

 tatissimum, it is said, is the ancient flax of Egypt 

 and Assyria. The ancient use of the fiber is evident 

 from the fact that the Egyptian mummies are 

 found wrapped in linen and the fiax plant is carved 

 on their tombs. Another evidence of its antiquity 

 is found in Genesis xli. 42 : " Pharaoh took off 

 his ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand 

 and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen." Its 

 introduction into Europe dates from very remote 

 times. Its importance was materially lessened by 

 the general introduction and use of cotton. 



The introduction of flax into the United States 

 was made at an early date, probably by the early 

 Pilgrims. No definite records are available. Up to 

 some thirty or more years ago it formed a part of 

 most farmers' harvest, but since the opening of the 

 new lands in the West, and the wonderful manu- 

 facturing achievements, it has been a crop with 

 which to reclaim the native sod. The farmers of 

 older lands gave up its culture to cheaper lands. 

 At present (1906), a new interest is awakening. A 

 wide-spread use for the fiber calls for added care in 

 harvesting, and a better knowledge of the science 

 of agriculture develops the fact that flax is not 

 " hard " on the land, and that crop rotation permits 

 of the use of the crop on every well-managed farm. 

 The production of flax in America is now placed on 

 an entirely new basis. 



Geographical distribution. 



In America the flax industry stands as one of the 

 oldest. The production of flax has been confined 

 largely to the newer, western lands, as it gradually 

 became less profitable on the older eastern farms. 

 The importance of the industry in the United States 

 is shown by the number of acres (2,534,836) de- 

 voted to flax, the number of bushels (28,477,753) 

 of seed produced, and the farm value ($24,049,072) 

 of the crop. [These figures and following table 

 from the agricultural Yearbook, 1905.] For the 

 most part, flax is grown in the northern states 

 and Canada, the two Dakotas and Minnesota pro- 

 ducing about 90 per cent of the total American 

 product. 



*Computed. 



It does not seem to matter much, for the produc- 

 tion of flax seed, whether the climate be hot or 

 cold. It is grown in north and south Europe, and 

 in this country from Texas to Manitoba. For fiber, 

 however, it has been asserted that certain localities, 

 as Michigan and Oregon, produce a better quality 

 for spinning purposes. 



The production of flax seed at present exceeds 

 the home demand, but a ready market is found in 

 European countries, especially England, for all the 

 export trade that can be supplied. The exports are 

 mostly by-products of the oil-mills, — oil-cake and 

 oil-meal. Until the year 1891, the domestic supply 

 was not equal to the demand, and most of the flax 

 seed used in the East was imported from Europe, 

 the home products being nearly all manufactured 

 and used in the states west of the AUeghanies. 



Propagation and cultivation 



The propagation of flax is entirely by the seed, 

 which is planted in the spring (the middle of May 

 to the middle of June in Minnesota) of the same sea- 

 son that the crop is harvested. It requires eighty- 

 five to one hundred days in which to mature the 

 crop. At present, flax in the United States and 

 Canada is grown almost exclusively for seed. The 

 demand for linseed oil has been an important factor 

 in stimulating the seed-producing feature. The 

 fiber has been neglected in this country until the 

 last few years. Several companies are now at work 

 on machinery and other equipment necessary to 

 the making of cordage and coarse-woven materials. 



Cost of Producing Flax in Minnesota. 



