192 



Flax^ its Treatment, 



peat, and reclaimed marsh lands are all seen, under ordinary 

 circumstances, to produce a crop. The sandy loams and the 

 alluvial soils, natural as well as artificial (warp lands), however, 

 appear to be the best suited to its cultivation. In Ireland large 

 crops are obtained on peat bogs, lands with a clay substratum. 

 The plant needs an open soil, through which the water may 

 freely percolate, as its roots are of a fibrous nature, and extend 

 laterally and vertically to a considerable distance (2 or 3 feet). 

 All the conditions required for its successful cultivation are, that 

 the soil be deep, in good heart and in good tilth, well drained 

 and free from weeds ; if these exist we may, under ordinary cir- 

 cumstances, expect a good crop. Owing to the rapid growth of 

 the plant, and the consequent shortness of time it occupies the 

 land, it offers many opportunities to the grower, and admits of 

 more changes in the rotation than most of the other farm crops. 

 These rotations vary in almost every locality, and must neces- 

 sarily be influenced materially by the soil, the climate, and the 

 general cultivation in relation to the markets of the district. 

 As these rotations are subject to so many modifications, it is 

 unnecessary to occupy your time with describing them now.* I 

 would only mention that, under ordinary circumstances, it is 

 found that the crop succeeds best after corn, or upon recently 

 broken up ground ; and that the crop is not generally so remu- 

 nerative when it follows turnips, potatoes, or other root crops. 

 The large quantity of organic matter usually applied to such crops 

 has a tendency to make the flax grow rank ; and although a large 

 crop is frequently obtained, the quality is not so good, and the 

 plant is more liable to sustain injury both from wind and wet 

 at the time approaching its maturity. 



The mode of cultivation is too well known to need more than 

 a passing observation. The condition and tilth of the soil must 

 be secured ; about two bushels of cleaned seed to the acre should 

 be sown broadcast by the hand or by the broadcast barrow ; it 

 should then be covered in by a pair of fine harrows, and a light 

 roller run over it completes the operation. The month of April 

 is the usual time for getting in the seed, but I am much inclined 

 to think that flax might be grown advantageously in many late 

 districts by being sown in the autumn. 



After being properly got in the only care it requires is weed- 

 ing. It is important that this be done in a careful and effective 

 manner, as the value of the crop depends materially upon its 

 cleanness. The harvest operations differ slightly from the usual 

 crops ; the proper time is determined by the colour of the strav/ 

 and of the seed. Flax is always pulled up by the roots ; these 



* See Essay on Flax. — ll.A.S. Journal, vol. viii. 



