42 
Heport oil the Agriculture of Belgium. 
matli-grass in the autumn, as they find that the milk continues 
longer, is ot better quality, and is given in greater quantity ; but 
the smaller farmers object to this s3'stem owing to the damage 
done by the treading of the cattle. On feeding farms, especially 
where sugar-beet is grown, it is very important to have good 
pasture for the beasts during the summer, so that on such 
holdings they only mow sufficient grass annually to furnish hay 
for the horses, and fodder for the earliest-bought beasts in the 
spring. On the previous class of farms the cows are tethered on 
the grass either singly or in small droves of from two to four or 
five, according to the size of the farm, each drove being attended 
by a child or a woman. On feeding farms the cattle are " folded " 
on the pastures, and after they are moved to the next fold, or 
"park," their droppings ai-e carefully and evenly spread over 
that which they have just left. 
5. Flax. — Of the " Industrial Crops," which form so promi- 
nent a feature in Belgian agriculture, this is one of the most 
important, its only rival being sugar-beet. The culture of the 
plant has already been described very frequently ; and as, like 
all other crops, its treatment must vary with circumstances 
(especially its place in the rotation, the quality of the land, the 
climate, &c.), a detailed description of the tillage operations 
would be for the most part a repetition without practical benefit ; 
we shall, therefore, confine ourselves to a general statement of 
the practice as pursued in the chief flax-growing district in 
Belgium, viz., in the neighbourhood of Courtrai. 
In that district oats aie considered the best preparatory crop, 
although flax is frequently taken after potatoes, and sometimes 
after any white crop. Whatever crop precedes it, the ground 
must have been well manured, so as to remain in good heart, 
otherwise the yield and quality of flax will certainly be deficient. 
Another point is that flax must not be grown often, certainly not 
more than once in seven, or, better still, in nine years. A third 
requisite is to obtain a very fine and even tilth. 
Presuming that the preceding crop is oats, the stubbles are 
ploughed-in to a depth of from 6 to 10 inches, according to the 
land,* about November. The land is left during the winter ; 
and about the end of Februai-y, if possible, it is ploughed and 
harrowed until a sufficiently fine and even tilth is secured. 
When these spring operations are once commenced they are 
continued as fast as the weather will permit, the last process 
being a good rolling. On this rolled seed-bed it is usual to sow 
a certain amount of guano, and immediately afterwards the 
mixture of linseed and clover. The quantity of linseed sown per 
The lighter the land the deeper it is ploughed. 
