26 BULLETIN 883, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 
2. Short fiber. — The three outstanding varieties of the short-fiber 
type are C.I. Nos. 24, 13, and 12. C. I. No. 24 differs from the others in 
having a white blossom. Plants of the short-fiber type predominate 
in several other varieties; in fact, varieties in this group grade rather 
imperceptibly into varieties described in group 3 as having slender 
stems and compact panicles. A final classification of varieties will 
probably put all those described in groups 2, 3,4, and 5 into one divi- 
sion but will subdivide them for height, erectness, and coarseness of 
stem. For the purposes of this paper it seemed desirable, however, 
to consider them separately. Short-fiber varieties tend to be slightly 
shorter than the true seed-flax types, have smaller seeds, are poorer 
yielders, and the seeds have a relatively lower oil content. 
3. European seed. — This group comprises the types grown gener- 
ally in the Northwest and includes most of the varieties already 
considered under the plat experiments. These are included in the 
nursery series to show their behavior in comparison with the other 
types and the relative results obtained in plat and nursery experi- 
ments. All are blue flowered and brown seeded and range in height 
from 22 to 28 inches. The average yields of seed and oil are superior 
to most of the other varieties grown in these experiments. 
4. Argentine. — The tall Argentine strains are similar to the varie- 
ties in the European seed group which have coarse stems and rami- 
fied panicles. The short Argentine varieties range in height from 18 
to 20 inches and ordinarily produce one or more basal branches. The 
yields of seed and oil compare favorably with the varieties in group 
3, but the varieties included in Table IX are fairly well acclimated. 
New introductions are ordinarily shorter and usually lack uni- 
formity, being commercial mixtures. One would be taking a big 
chance in using a commercial importation from Argentina for seed- 
ing in this country, and could not expect as profitable returns as 
from locally grown commercial seed. 
o. Turkish. — Three varieties are included in the Turkish group, 
two of which were obtained from Smyrna and one from the Island of 
Crete. C. I. No. 7 was originally a copiously branched prostrate- 
growing type. Several years of culture in this country have resulted 
in natural selection toward an upright type, but the variety lacks 
uniformity, the proportion of straw to grain is always high, and the 
yield of seed is low. The seed is large and has a high oil content, 
but the variety can not be recommended. C. I. Nos. 30 and 31 are 
short, late, and do not yield satisfactorily in the Northwest. They 
are of value chiefly as breeding stocks. 
G. Golden. — The golden group is represented by three varieties 
obtained from local sources in the Northwest. The flowers are large 
and white with blue veins, and the seed is golden to Isabella color, 
