Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1821-10-09

of fax husbandry and further in
ference may be drawn, that experiments
on various soils with seed the growth of
different climates, are requisite to direct
the farmer to the quarter from whence
his best seed may be obtained. Here
opens legitimate field for our hume
rous agricultural societies to labor in |;
on their exertions the farmer must de-
pend in the outset; but let it once be as
certained that Riga seed is best in one
section, Dutch or German in others, and
mercantile interest, if not patriotism, will
soon distribute them.
Should it be objected to importing
seed on account of the expense, we re-
ply, that large quantities of linseed oil
are constantly imported, and the differ
ence of price between our own seed and
that imported, will not much exceed what
is now paid for good clean seed for SOW
ing or export, and that which is sold for
crushing; but if it is fifty cents per
bushel, or more, it can be no object,
compared with the advantages tina, may
be reasonably expected to result, and the
farmer need not be told, that in all his
operations, parsimony is never so i'll
judged, as when exercised in the selec-
ton of his seeds" 1t is not pretended,
however, but that, from the great varie-
ty of soil and climate in the United States,
the object in view might be obtained
without importations; yet, it may be i'm
portant to have good stock 10 begin
with, when trials could be instituted with
its produce at any rate it cannot be ex-
pected that individuals will embark in
such course of experiments, either
with foreign or domestic seed, unless
encouraged by agricultural societies or
other public bodies.
The subject presents a character oil
such national importance, that wider
range must be taken than views ofmere
local interests require we shall there
fore first examine, under the present
head, the different sections Of our coun-
try. New soils are found most iavora-
BILE to the growth of the FAX plant; and
it is scarcely necessary to mention the
vast fertile tracts on the western waters,
as capable Of producing immense guam
titles.
. The state of Maine has soil and cli-
mate, that appears highly congenial to
FAX culture. The extensive tracts oil
strong carbonaceous soils, particularly
those dcnominated "black lands," and
the almost total absence of drought, will
enable that state to possess staple in
this article, not inferior in value to any,
except grazing, whenever the energies
of her population shall be directed to it.
The rest of New England, that part OF
New-York not included in the first de-
scription, and New-Jersey, have bodies
of land suitable for fax, quite sufficient
to be embraced in the system Of agricul-
ture best adapted 10 their situation.-
Pennsylvania probably grows more flax
than all the other states in the Union. /
The Atlantic sections of the states, south
of the Delaware to the cotton latitude,
possess considerable tracts of alluvial
soils, bordering Oh the numerous rivers,
bays and inlcts, with which they are in-
tersectcd; a portion of them, besides
swamps, may be reclaimed without great
expense; they have also bodies of strong
clays. Should these be too much ex-
hausted by severe cropping, they may
soon be restored by the admirable clover
system adopted by Col. Taylor Of Vir-
ginia, and made to produce good flax /;
as it is probable, from the early period
the ground may be sown, that the crop
would be seldom injured by the thoughts
to which the climate is subject.
The soils which rank first in this
country are the flat bottoms, that are
covered by the fall and spring floods
which subside early enough in the season
to get in crop; those river fats on the
second banks, that have depth of strong
alluvial soil the reclaimed marshes and
swamps with black unctuous soil, not
too peaty, with as much clay in the COM
position as will permit its being render
ed soon dry and mellow, and not retain
water on or near the surface; if it stands
two feet below, so much the better, but
must be we'll guarded by bitches and
dykes against sudden frcshets. Such is
the soil of the province of Zealand,
where more fax is raised and of better
quality, than in any other part Of Holland.
The next in estimation are the strong
black loans on clay, or hard pan, that
will retain moisture. Yellow loans,
with holding subsoil, may be render
ed suitable for fax by proper cultivation |;
and since the discovery that plaster Of
paris is an excellent manure for it, a
crop may be obtained with much more