8 Department Circular 26^, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 



Tests conducted on 15 flax varieties and selections indicate that 

 most flaxes resistant to frost are also strongly resistant to flax wilt. 



Fig. 5. — Frost resistance in flax. A comparison betweeai Saginaw and unselected fiber 

 flax. Typical plants from the bundles in Fijrure 4 are tjiken for tliis comparison. In 

 the center are two plants of White Blossom Dutch, a variety susceptible to frost, with 

 a panicle 20 centimeters long and coarse stems 54 centimeters to the first branch. On 

 the right is Saginaw, resistant to frost, with a panicle 13 centimeters long and fine 

 long stems, 78 centimeters to the first branch. On^ the left ai-e two plants of Blue 

 Blossom Dutch, resi.stant to frost, with a panicle 11 centimeters long' and fine stems, _ 

 47 centimeters to the first branch. 



I 



Flax varieties vary in their ability to resist frost, and marked im- 

 provement may be secured by making selections for increased re- 

 sistance. 



WASHINGTON : GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1923 



