The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-01-09
SYLVAN DELL.
FARMERS DEPARTMENT.
"Thc farmers crop their living from their crops,
And each shares the blessing of their sllares.''
From the Wool Grower.
Flax Culture.

Mr.. PErERs-In perusing your paper, do
not see any thing said about the growing of
Flax That being an article that have been
engaged in for some years, feel good deal of
interest upon the subject There appears to be
but little said about flax culture in any ofthe pa
pers, although it is very important crop. |
would like to inquire of some Of your subscribers
their views and give them mine.
There seems to be variety of views on the
amount of seed necessary for an An cast
ern farmer informed me that those who sowed
eighteen quart to the acre, generally got more
seed than those who sowed more or less, and
they raise it for the seed only. | think it pro-
fitabe crop to raise for the lint as we'll as the
seed, especially when the lint can be sold from
seven to eight cents per pound, especially when
the farmer can get his flax dressed at the half
From 800 to 400 lbs. of flax to the acre, is the
common yield, on good fax land. have known
over 400 pounds of good, we'll dressed flax to the
acre, and that sold at seven cent per pound
Flax sent to the Troy market does better than
sold about home
have found flax the best crop to seed with
of any that raise. Flax seed should be sowed
crop of seed and lint. l am fully satisfied that
the seed ought to be sowcd at full of the
moon, in April. l had occasion to visit farmer
last sumemr, that commenced sowing ten acres
in the new of the moon, in May, but, owing TO
the wet weather, did not finish till the full Of the
Tb,+c IN, 4bo n +bo did
not stop blowing till late in September, and
thought the first sowing would not yield over six
or seven bushels Of seed to the acre, and that
sowed in the full of the moon was worth three or
four times as much as that sowed in the new of
the moon. When sowed earl y, and i'll the full
full of the moon, it does not blow SO long, and
will coat much better, and seed much better
Flax designed to be pulled and to save the lint,
should be pulled soon after the leaves begin to
turn brown or to fall from the stalk. Every
farmer that has land that will grow good flax,
should SOW at least one acre. The cost of seed
will be only fifty cents, and can be pulled some
odd job, when he cannot get up hay and grain.
+ good smart man will pull acre, and tie and
) and stock it up in three days. and some will do
it in two. The best way, have Observed is to
pull up as large handful as you can, and tie ii
, up with some ofthe scatterings. When ready
to stock, set up about ten or twelve handfuls in
what is called Dutch shook, two and two
. This think the best way for two reasons-they
are handy to load and will cure the best, and dry
, if gets wet.
Some flax for the seed only, and NOW il
and cure it the same as hay. The fact is dc
, know that cattle will eat fax straw. If you car
raise good winter wheat you can turn your lanc
over early in the spring and SOW it with flax anc
you can pull the flax the last of July. Plow
r Immediately, and SOW eight or ten quarts ofbucl
wheat, which roll down and plow under as soor
as it gets in blossom. l think in this way yor
will get as good crop as if you had turned uude
your sward, and your land will not grow poorer
l might say much more, but shall not do unit
l hear from you or some ofyour other subscri
bcrs who hope will exchange views with mi
. on the subject. WESTERN FARMER
REMAnKs.-We have long felt that proper at
5 tention was not paid to the cultivation FLAX
> 1t can be made one of the most profitable crop
, upon farm. The seed always brings high price
and has ready market, and the demand for tn
lint is rapidly i'll creasng. One great drawbacl
upon its culture is undoubtedly the difficulty o
dressing, but that will soon be obviated by por
! table mills. We saw one for flax and hemp las
spring in Cincinnati, inYented by Mr.. N. L
Williams, which worked admirably. The ma
chine for flax could be operated by hand or hors
power, and twomen could dress 800 pounds wit
4 with ease There was no loss in tow, which ]