Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-03-05
AGNICUA'TVRAL.
From the New-Jersey, Newark. ! Eagle

Aiohi VIC Ne"-JeISey, lNeWarB,) Eagle.
FLAG Machine and Cultivation Of FLAG.
Mr.. KINNEy--I beg o. you to publish
the following Information, in answer to
the many inquiries made by letter and
otherwise in relation to the cultivation of
flax, to enable the farmer to prepare for
the ensuing season.
The land upon which have cultivated
tiax the last season was reclaimed salt
meadow lying opposite Newark. From
the experiments made the last year, and
i, the best information nave been able to
I obtain from practical farmers and writers
ON husbandry, recommend the follow
ing course to be pursued -
|. Sow your seed at any time between
the 2oth April and the 10th May. Last
year began as early as the 3olh March,
and continued until the last week in May,
but the lots sown between the 3oth April
and 10th May, were the best--the diff
ference Of climate must neccssar,,y re-
gulate the time Of sowing, which little
experience will soon teach.
2. Change your seed-neyer sow the
seed grown On the same soil--and above
all get clean seed-I know an instance
the last season where the Mulberry or
Negro head as it is generally called, de-
stroyed whole crop.
8. II you wish to raise crop of fine
.far, which will pay better than a crop
for seed, SOW as near as may be, two
bushels to the acre--if for seed, then
from pecEs to bushel-I would re-
commend to every farmer, that can do il,
to raise at least 10 acres of fax, to sow s
acres at the rate of two bushels per acre,
and the remaining TWO acres for seed
he can then at another season, change his
seed with the flax seed merchant--sow
clover, timothy or other grass seeds with
your.Hax seed
4. If you cultivate for fine .far, then
as soon as the Bplls or Capsulus are
formed and while they are yet in the
milk, the crop must be pulled and spread
thin upon the ground. If the FAX is left
to grow till the seed is ripe, the harle or
FIBRE is too coarse 10 make fine linen and
cannot be made as white by bleaohing-
If you cultivate for seed, pull your fax
as soon as the leaves begin to fall and
the stalks show a bright yellow colour
and the bolls are turned little brown
when the flax is lodged it should be pull
ed Immediately, and great care is 10 be
taken in sorting the different lengths to
prevent waste in dressing and hacking
or hetcheling as it is called.
$. The crop after being pulled and
spread thin on the ground, must be turn
ed from time to time until quite dry. -
If it is put up green or damp or the
bolIs not perfectly dry, it will not clean
well and is liable to ferment and injure-
you will hasten the drying of Thy stand
ing it up on the butt loose, and turning
it occasionally inside out.
6. The crop when sufficiently dry
should be tied up in bundles or sheats
and taken to the barn or other place to
be kept dry-each bundle should weigh
about two pounds, particular attention
should be paid to this, for it will facili-
tate the dressing as the machine will take
through at one time, bundle of about
two pounds weight spread out thin and
three of these bundles in minute, the
tender of the machine therefore has very
little time TO regulate the size of his
bundles.
7. The fax thus prepared is dressed
in machine svithout .rotting, and when
dressed can be rendered by every far
mer's wife, perfectly white, resembling
floss silk, by following the directions that
will be given-the machine will dress
hemh and fac rotted or unrotted-ana
hemp at present bears a good price.
8. A greater quantity off1ax is obtain
ed in this way, SO that the owner Of the
machine is able to give the farmer as
much clean fax as he can procure in the
old method, the fax is stronger because
pnrotted, and one moments reflection
will show the advantages that result to
the farmer-he gets as much flax as he
can get in the old way, he saves the labor
of rotting, and the chance Of ruining it.
The fax is better, and rendered fit for
immediate use, without bleaching in the
old way; and if the farmer has any to
sell, will readily bring him one third
more than the fax prepared and cleaned
as heretofore done.
9. remark, that your land, if in good
condition, (without it is in good order
ought not to be sown with fax will yield
an average of one and an half tons OF
plant Or steur. There is q market at