Flax is a Profitable Crop 
New Soil Conservation Program Again 
Encourages Its Production 
In the north central region flax will not be considered a 
soil depleting crop when used as a nurse crop for biennial 
or perennial grasses established in 1940. This change in 
the Soil Conservation Program was made to stimulate the 
growing of flax. Production of flax during the past six 
years has been so small that the crushers have had to im¬ 
port large quantities. 
Flax is easily grown if planted on clean land. It will 
produce a large crop under good growing conditions, 
bringing much greater returns than can be obtained from 
most of the grain crops, fl good flax crop will usually bring 
$25 to $35 per acre, while $20 to $25 per acre is a good 
return from small grain. In addition, flax holds an important 
place in the soil building and erosion control program. 
Sudan Grass produces 3 to 4 tons of hay from one cutting. 
HARDY FLAX 
VARIETIES 
There is an acute shortage of Seed Flax. 
Order early while supplies are available. 
In the past, Flax was considered more as a 
catch crop, to be planted when conditions for 
other crops were unsatisfactory, or after all 
other crops were sown. This is a very poor 
procedure, for Flax does best in moderately 
warm weather and if planted too late is usu¬ 
ally greatly affected by heat and drought. 
To obtain large crops, sow early right after 
grains are planted, up to about the middle of 
May. The earlier that Flax is sown, the bet¬ 
ter able the plant will be to withstand wilt and 
other diseases. 
Sow Flax at the rate of 28 to 42 lbs. per 
acre, depending upon the size of the seed and 
the condition of the land. The smaller seeded 
varieties such as Red Wing are seeded at the 
rate of 28 to 35 lbs, per acre, or slightly 
more if the land is somewhat weedy. Bison at 
about 35 to 42 lbs. per acre. 
BISON -This variety comes from the 
North Dakota Experiment Station. It is a 
large seeded type both rust and wilt resistant 
and is exceptionally popular in the Dakotas, 
Minnesota and other points of the Northwest. 
It has already replaced many other varieties 
now being grown. From the yield standpoint 
it will produce about as much as Red Wing. 
Yields have been reported as high as 30 bush¬ 
els per acre, but an average yield can be 
expected of about 20 bushels or more per 
acre. See Blue Figure Price List. 
RED WING FLAX -Rust and wilt re¬ 
sistant. Like Bison Flax, Red Wing is out¬ 
standing for its resistance to rust and wilt. It 
was developed by the Minnesota Experiment 
Station and has proven a good yielder through¬ 
out the Northwest. The blossoms of Red 
Wing Flax are a lighter blue than the other 
varieties and the seed is somewhat lighter in 
color. Red Wing Flax is quite popular this 
season and we anticipate a good demand. See 
Blue Figure Price List. 
RAPE 
FOR QUICK PASTURE 
Rape is an annual forage plant of great val¬ 
ue, profitable in all sections of the country. It 
can be grown to advantage on land which has 
already produced an early grain crop, like oats, 
rye, or winter wheat. 
Rape provides excellent pasture for all kinds 
of livestock, cattle, hogs, and sheep. It can be 
sown at any time during spring or summer, so 
a good pasture can be had whenever it is 
needed. Rape will prepare sheep and hogs for 
market better and in less time than any other 
forage plant. 
One acre is sufficient to pasture 12 to 15 
sheep from six weeks to two months, and is 
the ideal pasture for weaning lambs. Spring 
pigs can easily be brought up to 200 lbs. in 
weight when six months old, if fed on rape. 
It is a mild succulent feed for cattle, and will 
not flavor the milk, if the cattle are pastured 
properly. Stock that is being fed on rape 
should always have access to salt. 
Two pieces of land may be seeded at once, to 
be used alternately, pasturing one while the 
other is growing. Do not graze too closely. 
Rape makes a good fall pasture. 
DWARF ESSEX RAPE -The common¬ 
ly grown type that has produced the finest pas¬ 
tures for many years. Lb. 20c, 5 lbs. 75c, 
postpaid. See Blue Figure Price List. 
Advantages in Sowing Rape 
1. Grows wherever corn or turnips grow. 
2. Provides pasture in 6 to 8 weeks’ time. 
3. The best forage plant for dry seasons, be¬ 
cause of its strong, deep root system. 
4. Plant alone or with grain, soy beans, Sudan 
Grass or cane. 
5. Adds humus matter to soil when plowed 
under. 
6. Its cheapness; sown broadcast, use 5 or 6 
lbs., sown in rows, use only 3 lbs. per 
acre. 
SUDAN GRASS 
GROWS QUICKLY 
One of the best annual forage plants ever in¬ 
troduced, suitable for almost any locality. 
Sudan Grass thrives best on rich loam, but has 
been successfully grown on almost every kind 
of soil, from heavy clay to light sand. Cold, 
wet soils are not suited to Sudan Grass. Sudan 
Grass is a sorghum, and an annual, without un¬ 
derground root sprouts. It grows 4 to 5 feet 
high in drilled seedings, and 5 to 8 feet in 
cultivated rows. 
DO NOT SOW SUDAN GRASS BEFORE 
CORN PLANTING TIME. Like corn, it is a 
warm weather crop. 
In favorable seasons, the growing period is 
long, and several cuttings can be obtained in 
one season. For hay it is ready to cut in 00 
to 75 days, when it is in full head. It con¬ 
tinues its growth, and in 40 to 45 days it is 
ready for another cutting. If Sudan Grass is 
grown for seed, only one crop can be harvested. 
Produces Quality Hay 
Sudan Grass is an enormous yielder, produc¬ 
ing 3 or 4 tons of hay at the first cutting. The 
second cutting is lighter, and the hay is much 
finer. Livestock of all kinds will eat the hay 
readily. 
CULTURE—For a seed crop, sow 15 lbs. per 
acre, in drills, 15 to 20 inches apart. The crop 
should be harvested with a grain binder. 
For hay, sow at the rate of 20 to 30 lbs. per 
acre, using a grain drill, and cover from one to 
one and one-half inches deep. Heavy seeding 
makes finer quality hay. 
The hay crop is harvested with a regular 
mower, when the Sudan Grass is fully headed 
out. It can be cut in the morning, and if the 
sun is bright, it should be raked up in the 
afternoon of the next day. After bunching, it 
is placed in cocks, just the same as alfalfa. 
After it has been thoroughly cured, it is re¬ 
moved from the cocks to the barn, or stacked. 
Because of the large amount of juice in the 
stems of Sudan Grass, the leaves cure first and 
the hay often appears ready to stack, when it 
is not. Therefore, the only sure way to avoid 
heating, is to allow Sudan Grass to remain in 
cocks long enough for the stems to become dry. 
The leaves are retained well, and if cut at the 
right stage will make a bright, leafy, sweet, 
hay, of the very best quality. 
Plant Legumes with Sudan 
Sudan Grass grown with legumes, such as 
soy beans,, makes a well-balanced mixture for 
pasture, ensilage and hay. Sudan Grass grows 
stiffly erect, with stems strong enough to sup¬ 
port the vines and makes harvesting easier, by 
keeping them off the ground. It hastens cur¬ 
ing, by preventing the beans rotting. 
Sudan Grass and soy beans, planted together, 
make a good hog pasture. Sow 25 to 30 lbs. 
Sudan Grass and the same quantity of soy 
beans, to the acre, drilling in the seed with a 
grain drill. For quickest results, sow in rows 
18 to 20 inches apart, and cultivate. 
Prices: Lb. 20c, 5 lbs. 75c, postpaid. See 
Blue Figure Price List. 
SUDAN GRASS CIRCULAR FREE 
Ideal Flax Combination Crops 
Legiiiiie—Grass—Flax 
Combination 
As a nurse crop for Alfalfa, Clovers or 
Grasses, Flax has no equal, because it does 
not heavily shade the young forage plants 
and its sturdy stubble affords winter protec¬ 
tion. The flax plants’ open habit of growth 
and the presence of legumes and grasses in 
combination also aid in controlling weeds. 
We recommend seeding a normal rate of 
Alfalfa, Bed and Alsike Clover, Sweet Clover, 
Timothy, or other grasses with approximately 
one-half a normal seeding of flax per acre, 
or 14 to 20 lbs., so that the clover and 
grasses would not be smothered and a good 
stand secured. 
A Clover or Grass Seed attachment to the 
grain drill may be used, sowing the seed 
ahead of the drill and covering it lightly 
with a harrow. 
Wheat—Flax 
Combination 
A combination of 15 to 20 lbs. of Flax 
and 45 lbs. of Seed Wheat per acre sown at 
the usual wheat seeding time has an advan¬ 
tage over flax alone, particularly in the con¬ 
trol of such weeds as lamb’s quarters and 
wild buckwheat. This early seeding which 
gives the wheat the best chance for develop¬ 
ment, provides the best conditions for the 
growth of the flax also. 
Yields of 10 bushels of flax and 15 to 20 
bushels of wheat are not uncommon, with a 
combined seeding. When threshed, they are 
easily separated with an ordinary fanning 
mill and can be sold at highest market value 
because the quality of the graiii is usually 
very good. There is less danger of damage 
to either crop from disease or lodging when 
grown in combination. 
If Short of Cash a Down Payment of 25% Will Hold Seed Until Wanted. 
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