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AGRICULTURE IS THE MOST HEALTHY , THE MOST USEFUL , AND THE MOST NOBLE EMPLOYMENT OF MAN. - Washington 
PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY ALLEN & CO., 189 WATER ST. 
VOL. XII.—NO. 12.] 
m~FOR PROSPECTUS, TERMS, kc., 
SEE LAST PAGE. 
CULTIVATION OF FLAX. 
The war between Russia and the Western 
Powers in Europe, will completely interrupt the 
usual exports of flax and flax seed from Riga 
and Odessa—the ports from which large sup¬ 
plies are usually drawn—while the Mediterra¬ 
nean and Dutch supply must also be very un¬ 
certain, from the risk threatened to shipping by 
Russian cruisers. Already the price of these 
commodities has been seriously affected by the 
war. Flax seed is now worth about two dollars 
per bushel in New-York—the general price be¬ 
ing about 75 cents—and flax and hemp are also 
very high. Our farmers who have been far-see¬ 
ing enough to sow flax this spring, will reap an 
ample return, and we have little doubt for the 
following harvest, (1855,) and perhaps for seve¬ 
ral years, flax will be among the most remune¬ 
rative crops. Besides the high price certain to 
be obtained for good, well-saved seed in any 
quantity, another inducement to grow flax is the 
fact that the straw can be sold to good advan¬ 
tage in New-York and the Eastern States, where 
formerly it was scarcely worth saving. In Bol¬ 
and and in Ireland, the flax straw frjm an acre 
brings the producer an average return of $40 to 
$50, and when the quality is very fine, even as 
high as $100 or $150, and this in ordinary 
times, and of course there will now be a large 
increase in value; when the price of twelve 
bushels of seed per acre is added to the above, 
the growers here can calculate the return that 
foreigners obtain from a crop which is almost 
neglected with us. Why should this be? We 
have every variety of soil and climate; we have 
men capable of studying out the means by 
which good crops are obtained abroad, and 
what more is required? We refer those who 
have sown flax this spring, to the instructions 
we have lately published in the American Agri¬ 
culturist as to the weeding , pulling, and sawing 
of their crop, and we request them to remember 
that by strictly following these rules, they will 
at least double the value of their flax, and also 
help get up a character for American flax and 
seed which it has never yet enjoyed. 
Our export of seed was very considerable 
some years ago, but the trade has been lost in 
consequence of carelessness in the growth, and 
—it is said—dishonesty in measurement. We 
now import from East Indies and other parts, 
between two and three million bushels of flax 
seed yearly, to be consumed by oil crushers, 
who again export the oil-cake to England, 
NEW-YORK, WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 1854. 
where a high price is obtained from the stock 
breeders, who appreciate its peculiarly nutritive 
qualities. 
There is no reason why we should not grow 
all this seed at home, and be large exporters 
besides, if we rightly set about the improve¬ 
ment of our crop. Nor do we see why it would 
not pay to bale up our flax straw, (tightly as we 
do hay,) and ship it to the spinning mills of 
Europe, so long as our home manufacture can¬ 
not consume all wc grow. Before we can do 
this, however, we must vastly improve the 
growth and mode of preparation for market, 
which has hitherto been done in a truly slovenly 
manner. We are glad to hear from our friend 
at Waterloo, N.Y., that flax-dressing machinery 
is in operatian in this State, and we hope to see 
much attention directed to this important mat¬ 
ter. We expect to have something to say 
about improved machinery in our next. Mean¬ 
time we solicit information on this subject from 
all who are able to impart it. 
THE RUTA EAGA. 
It seems hardly credible, that a crop as pro¬ 
fitable as the Ruta Baga may be made to the 
farmer, should be so little cared for and culti¬ 
vated by him. The cultivation of the potato, 
notwithstanding its well known liability to rot, 
is still pertinaciously adhered to, while the ruta 
baga, with the same care, and at a less cost of 
production, will yield two or three times as 
much per acre. They are very valuable for 
making beef, pork, and mutton, by using alone, 
or in connection with other food. 
Some object to their use for milk cows, on the 
ground that the milk and butter taste of them, 
but if fed only once a day, at the time of, or 
just after milking, they are not so objectionable 
If it is desirable to feed them oftencr, it is said 
that plenty of salt, kept in reach of the cows, 
will act as a partial remedy for this. 
Sheep are fond of them, and in spring they 
are excellent food for ewes having lambs. After 
a short training, horses will eat them readily, 
and thrive upon them. They can be kept till 
June or July, and hold their nutritive qualities 
well. 
They leave the land in good tilth, as they 
take much of their substance from the air. 
They can be planted as a second crop after an 
early one, and in some cases this would be of 
advantage, since if planted earlier they would 
be more likely to rot. 
On good ground, with only just such atten¬ 
tion as a farmer should give to any crop, GOO 
bushels per acre may be safely set down as an 
average yield. Most farmers can cultivate them 
for less than $20 per acre, none need expend 
[NEW SERIES.—NO. 38. 
over $30; and the highest figure would be only 
five cents per bushel. 
Taking into consideration the cost of produc¬ 
tion, and the feeding qualities of this root, there 
is probably no crop the farmer can raise on a 
limited scale, that will repay him so well. 
The soil best suited to their growth is a strong 
sandy loam, though good crops can be raised on 
any but a stiff clay or wet soil, by plowing 
deeply and thoroughly pulverizing it. Clover, 
or grass sod of any kind, well turned under, 
will produce a good crop. If other ground is 
used, it should be well supplied with manure, 
unless this has been applied to the previous 
crop. 
To prepare the ground, it should have, if in 
sod, but one plowing, and that just before 
planting—if without sod, it may be plowed 
twice to advantage. The proper time for plant¬ 
ing varies according to latitude or situation. In 
the north, and on elevated lands where it is 
colder, the tenth of June may not be too early, 
while further south they should be planted 
later, to avoid the summer heat. In the latitude 
of New-York city, from the 25th of June to 
the 10th of July is the most favorable, while 
in the Southern States the middle or last of 
August is soon enough. 
Less than a pound of seed per acre would 
suffice, but there had better be double the 
needed quantity of plants, than to have a defi¬ 
ciency on any spot of ground. The roots sel¬ 
dom do as well transplanted, yet even this may 
be profitably resorted to. Some prefer sowing 
broadcast, but this must involve more hand 
labor and expense. Sown in drills, two feet or 
more apart, a cultivator or horse hoe may do 
most of the weeding. 
The ground should be kept free from weeds, 
more especially when the plants first come up; 
for if left to be choked by them the first week 
or two, no care in after culture can remedy the 
neglect. The plants should be thinned out 
from 9 to 12 inches apart in the drill, to give 
them ample room to expand. On good ground, 
it will be found that the room thus given, will be 
well taken up. 
Plaster sown broadcast, or on the drill, in the 
first stages of growth, will, on many soils, 
more than repay the cost and trouble. 
It is as indispensable that the ground should 
be kept well stirred and pulverized with the cul¬ 
tivator or hoe, during the time that the weeds 
strive for the mastery, as that the weeds them¬ 
selves should be kept down. Even after the 
growth of weeds is checked, the more the 
ground is stirred and loosened, the better for the 
crop. 
They can stand in the ground till other fall 
work is out of the way, as a moderate freezing 
