412 On the Modes of Culture and Preparation of Flax, 
any one acquainted with farming operations must be aware that 
ground cropped for a succession of years must have rest. These 
rotations are merely introduced to exemplify the judicious repe- 
tition of crops in ground under cultivation, assuming that a 
portion of the farm is undergoing the necessary renovation pro- 
duced by its remaining in pasture for some years. 
Stubble land intended for flax should be ploughed deep in the 
autumn ; if light, allow it to remain till seed-time ; medium land 
may require a second ploughing, which should be done not less 
than two months before sowing. Heavy land will, without doubt, 
require the second ploughing, and perhaps grubbing, to bring 
it into a proper state. The second ploughing must not be deep, 
about three or four inches. When flax is intended to be sown 
in potato ground, it must only receive one shallow ploughing, say 
three to four inches deep, and if the soil is light, this should not 
be done till a month or six weeks previous to sowing ; but if 
heavy, it would be desirable to have it ploughed earlier, so that 
the land may be exposed to the pulv^erising influence of frost. 
When seed-time arrives, should weeds, such as docks, sitfast, 
couch-grass, &c., appear, they should be removed, previous to 
harrowing, by men with grapes or spades, and children to gather. 
When this is done, harrow fine ; if in ridges, up and down 
only ; if flat, cross-harrow also : the reason for not cross-harrow- 
ing ground in ridges is, that it draws mould into the furrows, 
and leaves too loose a bed for the seed in the furrows and on 
the brows. Flax likes a firm bed. When the land is drained, 
or naturally dry, it would be better to put it in flat, which will 
make the crop more even in length. It is a great matter to have 
flax as uniform in length as possible : when there are furrows in 
the field, it will grow shorter in the furrows and on the brows, 
which should be avoided. 
The extent of pulverising depends on the nature of the soil ; 
on light and medium land, excessive pulverising does injury. If 
it has received a deep ploughing in the autumn, and, when neces- 
sary, a shallow winter ploughing in addition, a moderate har- 
rowing will leave a sufficient quantity of fine surface-mould to 
give a good bed for the seed. Pulverise such soils to any great 
depth, and the chance of a good crop is doubtful, unless in an 
unusually wet season. Heavy land, on the contrary, will bear 
any degree of pulverising. 
After every harrowing, pick the land perfectly clean of 
weeds, remove any loose stones that are large (small stones will 
do no harm). Previous to sowing, roll once. After rolling, 
some give a single stroke of a seed-harrow before sowing, but 
others recommend sowing on the rolled surface. A dry calm 
day must be chosen for putting in the seed. Flat ground should 
