Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1853-05-13
FLAX GROWING


One of the prominent Agricultural inter
ests of this State in future, will be the flax
culture. The adaptedness of our soil and
climate to the successful growing of flax, has
been fully demonstrated. We believe those
who engaged in this business in this county
last season, are we'll satisfied that it can be
made a profitable branch of agricultural pur-
suit. The flax crop is one of greater certain
ty than wheat, as it also is, of many other
products in this section of country. One of
the drawbacks to the raising of flax in this
county, is the want of convenient and rea-
dy market for the straw. Wherever fcili-
ties are offered for the marketing of the straw
in this State, the business of flax growing will
be largely gone into the present season. 1t
would certainly pay well for some of our en-
terprising farmers or mechanics in this coun-
| ty, to procure suitable machinery for flax
dressing. Improved machinery, equal to any
used in Europe,is now manufactured atSpring-
field, Massachusetts. One of the machines,
fitted for horse power, will, with the aid of
two men, dress from 800 to $50 pounds of
flax in a day. Flax, with the straw unrot-
ted may be dressed with these machines with
out difficulty. The testimonials in favor of
this machinery, are of such high authority,
| Ia lo,,ktaJ I,,t tHot L. L =.
are all that they are represented to be by the
makers. ... y ...
The proftableness of flax-growing has been
tested by farmers in different portions of this
State and in northern Illinois. Mr.. John
Wilkeson, of Grant county, in this State,
raised 35 bushels of flax seed per acre, last
season. This, we believe, is larger yield
than has been obtained by any of our farm
ers in this county. The average price of the
flax straw is eight dollars per ton ; the usual
quantity per acre is variously stated. TO-
Teere is no danger that the flax market
will be overstocked, either with the seed or
the fiber-both have the world for a market.
Flax has now obtained so much promine..c e
as an article of commerce, that there is no
more likelihood of being a surplusage in the
market, than there is of cotton. The man
ufacture of flax cotton, has had to encounter
formidable obstacles. The jealousy excited
by the cotton interest and cotton politicians,
has kept it out of view as much as possible
Many northern journals have evaded saying
anything encouragingly of the manufacture
of flax cotton, for fear of appearing in favor
of rival interest to that of the cotton grow
ers of the South. The reported failures of
the flax cotton manufacture, have generally
emanated from those interested in the cotton
trade, or sympathizing with cotton politicians.
1t may require years yet to render fax for
midable rival of cotton but it is the iudg-
ment of those who have the means of arriving
at correct conclusions and whose opinions
are entitled to weight, that flax is destined to
become the rival of cotton in the markets of
Europe and America. AT all events, it is
sufficient for the present. for the farmers of
Wisconsin to know, that the demand for fax
seed and flax fiber is as firm now as it was
before it was produced to any extent in the
West and that there is every reasonable pros
pect the demand will be rather increased
than diminished in years to come.