448 



On the Cultivation of Flax, 



land be properly managed, I know of nothing in the flax crop 

 requiring different treatment in this respect from any other 

 description of crop, whether green or yeilow. 



Various rotations are recommended as having been successfully 

 practised in different localities, and a few are inserted by way of 

 appendix at the end of this article,* in order that the judicious 

 farmer may select the one which appears to him best, or devise 

 from the whole something most suitable to the nature of his land 

 and his own particular position. 



In Flanders a great variety of crops is raised, the farms being 

 for the most part small, the majority varying from 8 or 10, to 20 

 and 30 acres. House or stall feeding the cattle is there, likewise, 

 universally practised, which gives a large supply of manure^ and 

 enables the farmer to keep the whole of his land under crop, and 

 thus to have a greater variety of rotations, flax, however, being 

 never omitted; for every Belgian farmer, whether large or small, 

 grows flax sufficient to keep himself and his people employed when 

 not at work on the land. 



Sowing. — We will assume that the land is in all respects pro- 

 perly prepared — that it has been thoroughly drained, is in good 

 heart and good tilth, and has been ploughed three times at least 

 in autumn and spring ; that the harrow and the roller have been 

 in active operation, the clods broken and completely pulverized, 

 the root weeds carefully picked off, and the ground brought to a 

 smooth and level surface. These are all essential to good hus- 

 bandry, and must on no account be omitted in the cultivation of 

 flax, which will not thrive under slovenly management. If the 

 surface be rough, uneven, and imperfectly wTought, the seed 

 cannot be equally distributed, and the plants will grow patchy and 

 irregular, to the injury of the crop both in quality and quantity. 



Proper care having thus been taken to prepare the land for 

 receiving the seed, the next consideration is the time of sowing ; 

 and on this point the great importance of sowing early cannot be 

 too strongly urged. In nine cases out of ten, early-sown flax will 

 be better than that which is sown late. As soon as the ground 

 can be got ready, put in the seed. This may generally be done 

 in March, and if in the first week so much the better. The ear- 

 lier you sow, the better will be your crop, and the sooner will it 

 be ready for pulling, which is an important consideration ; for it 

 will interfere less with the general harvest to pull the flax early 

 in July than if it runs into August, as it will do if sown late. 

 Moreover, if the flax is off the land early, a crop of turnips or 

 rape may often be obtained after it ; or, if this should not be de- 

 sired, the ground will have the benefit of half a summer's fallow. 



* See Appendix A, p. 469. 



