DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 



225 



>nt it must be 



gives the best results, but if this can not be obtained seed must be sown that has 

 been produced from plants grown for their fiber, also from selected seed. A proper 

 tlaxseed should be pure, free from the seeds of weeds and from all odors which would 

 indicate mustiness and bad condition that would affect its germinating power. The 

 foreign grower in purchasing his seed is subjected to a dozen forms of fraud, and 

 the only safe plan pursued is to buy of reputable dealers exclusively. In all cases 

 the heaviest, brightest, and plumpest seed should be preferred. J. R. Proctor, of 

 Kentucky, writing upon this subject many years ago, advocated the white-blossom 

 Dutch as the best seed for American flax growers. Eugene Bosse, a practical flax 

 grower, states that his preference, based upon several years' experience, is for (1) 

 "Riga seed, once sown in Belgium''— that is to say, imported seed grown on Belgian 

 soil from seed procured in Riga; (2) seed imported direct from Riga, 

 Riga and not Finland seed 

 (3) Dutch (Rotterdam) seed 

 and (4) American seed, whicl 

 he reports "as good as Xos. 

 2 and 3 when well cultivated, 

 though it will not stand the 

 drought as well.'' No. 1 will 

 produce about 8 bushels of 

 seed to the acre, No. 2 10 

 bushels, and No. 3 between 8 

 and 10 bushels. 



Weeding the crop. — In for- 

 eign countries this work is 

 done principally by women 

 and boys, who go over the 

 ground on their knees, pick- 

 ing out the weeds by hand. 

 This work is done usually 

 when the plants are from 1 to 

 9 2 inches high, though a sec- 

 ond and sometimes a third 

 weeding is found necessary 

 The American flax grower must 

 avoid the labor of weeding by 

 having clean land, made as 

 nearly clean as possible by 

 careful culture. Where weed- 

 ing becomes necessary it is 

 performed when the plants 

 are less than 5 inches high. 



Harvesting. — In Flanders and other portions of Belgium where the seed is of sec- 

 ondary importance, and the main object is to obtain as strong and fine fiber as possible, 

 the flax is pulled before it is fully ripe, or when it is just beginning to turn yellow, 

 coarse flax ripening earlier than fine. The work is done (or begins usually) the last 

 week in June, sometimes a little earlier, for, according to one of the old proverbs, 

 "June makes the flax." An Irish rule is to pull at once when the straw begins to 

 turn yellow and the foliage within 6 inches of the ground is drooping. For the best 

 results, when the desired end is fine fiber, the straw must be pulled. This is not the 

 usual practice of the Western flax grower, who cultivates for seed, however, and it 

 has been urged that it is absolutely essential, where the object is to produce both 

 fiber and seed, or, to state it more precisely, when the object is to produce a common 

 grade of fiber and at the same time save the seed. If the land surface is made very 

 -lnooth, so that the knives of the reaper may be set low, cutting by machine (rather 

 12247— Xo. 9 15 



Method offormino; stooks. 



