The Goodhue volunteer., 1863-03-11
Flax Culture,

F. G~tttng-.Apde Of r7Nrshing--C Cieauin
, Sfd--YtM per Acre-CJst. cf Rrodut
Tor " Certainty of the Grip. -" g
From the Chicago Tribune l'''" ;:
Ihe numerous Inquiries now being
made upon the subject Of flax cultur,,
show that more general attention i.
being given to it than. ever before, anG
IN order to meet and answer these in
f quiries, the practical experience oi
some Hundreds Of flax growers in II.
linois and the adjoining States, has
been obtained through series Of ques.
)tions sent out For written answers. r, and
the substance of them has been con.
densed for this paper. It has been
accomplished at no little expense, ana
we trust our country exchanges will
take pains to widen the circle Of read
ers by free extracts or by republishipg
1.-The entire article. -~..'.
Flax prefers rich sandy soil; but
will do we'll on any ground that is suit
able for wheat or corn.
The rolling prairies of the west are
we'll adapted to it, and in ordinary dry
seasons it does finely even on our fiat
prairies, though when such a wet
season as the last occurs, it will prove
failure on them unless the land is un
derdraincd. Experience shows that
the lands within forty miles of Chicago
produce large crops Of both seed and
straw, numerous fields having yielded
from fourteen to eighteen bushels the
last year. The rolling country around
Champaign, Decatur, Bloomington,
Wilmington and almost the Western
Northwest portion of this State, as
also large tracts in Wisconsin, Mime.
sofa aud Iowa afford the best soil for
fax.
PREP. RATION OF SOIL. y
All experienced farmers unite in
stating one thing as essential to success
in growing flax-i. e. thorough prep,
ara,ion Of the ground by p!owing and
narrowing" In most European coun-
tries it is sown as the first or fallow
crop, where system of rotation is
adopted, and always followed by
wheat. When this is done the land
should be p!owed the summer previous
and then re-plowcd as early in The
spring rs the weather will permit, and
we'll narrowed before sowing. t. .,
If heavy manuring is to be done, it
will be better to put on corn first, and
then follow that with fax, in which
case the land should he deeply plowed
in the fall. In answer to- our inquiries
Q" this point large majority Of farm
ers say, " le, it follow corn" and but
one objection is urged to it, which is,
that the old roots and stalks of corn in.
terfere with the close working Of a
machine in cutting it.: If those are
carefully removed, we should advise,
in the language Of our replies, l:. it
follow corn with deep fall piowine,
and then narrowing before sowing
until the surface is u,orougly ,pulveriz7
ed and made as smooth as possible. ou
T. .. ~ SOWING. :. ~, - nn,1r,
AS to the time of sowing, it. wilt, Of
course, vary with the latitude. and 10.
Fcality, but the general rule m az be
stated in the precise language of sew i'
eral farmers-'' as soon as the ground
Twill admit Of it" 20
In the. southern part Of the State
most of the seed is .sown as carly. a.
March; in the sntral counties .:bout
the first Of April while in onr northern
districts, and in Wisconsin and Min.
|''esota, from the 25th Of April to the
10th Of May, is early enough pener.
fally. @.. ~: 5ss@.s .osso ] ali ca= 9'Ed ?
Having prepared tic ground IS be.
fore stated, sow broadca,t, taking TAXI !.
Ipalns to distribute the seed as evenly
las possible. The quicker the seed n 4
E-=G - = 5E.syE =
I terminates and appears above ground
the better, and therefore i, should be
covered slightly with a light '.arrowto,
brush, and then rolled Tie Iarges,
crops raised in this State haye been 81
sfarsnerss who never harrow after sow.
ing, but merely ro.l It 10. The rojl;na
- an important matter, as IL viii facil;.