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

rty q '5eea-ltms Of tCutt'ng-INOds {
G"ft'"g-Node Of THrrshiny-C Cieauin
3d. YtM pc" Acre-Cvst ct Rrodue
t'o"- Certainty of the Crop. .
(From the Chicago Tribanc.l :.
The numerous Inquiries now bcin.
made upon the subject of flax cultur,
show that more general attention i
being given to it than ever before, anc
, IN order to meet and answer these in
f quiries, the practical experience q
some hundreds of flax growers in Il.
linois and the adjoining States, has
been obtained through series ofques.
tions sent out for written answers. and
/ the substance of them has been con-
densed for this paper. 1t has been
accomplished at no little expense, and
we trust our country exchanges will
take pains to widen the circle of read
ers by free extracts or by republishipg
the entire article.
u HOlL.
Flax prefers a 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 wet
season as the last occurs, it will prove
a failure on them unless the land is un-
1erdraincd. 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 and Iowa afford the best soil for
flax.
PREP. RATION OF sOII.
All experienced farmers unite in
stating one thing as essential to SUCCESS
IN growing flax. e. thorough prep
ara'ion Of the ground by p!owing and
narrowing" In most European coun-
tries 1t IS sown as the first or fallow
crop, where a system of rotation is
adopted, and always followed by
wheat. When this is done the land
should be plowed the summer previous
and then re'plowcd AZ early in the
spring rs the weather will permit, and
we'll narrowed before sowing.
If heavy manuring is to be done, it
will be better to put on corn first, and
then follow that with flax, in which
case the land should be deeply plowed
in the fall. In answer to our Inquiries
o" this point large majority Of farm
ers say, s. let it follow cern," and but
one objection is urged to it, which is,
that the old roots and stalks of corn in
terferc with the close working Of q
machine in cutting it. If those are
carcfully removed, VIC should advise.
in the language of our replies, 'l:: it
follow corn with deep fall plowing,
and then narrowing before sowing
until the surface is tlorougly pulveriz
ed and made as smooth as rossible. .
! SOWING. .a -.
AS TO the time of sowing, it will, oi
course, vary with the latitude and 10.
cal'ty, but the general rule may be
stated in the precise language of sew.
eral farmers-'' as soon as the ground
will admit Of it."
In the southern part Of the State
most Of the seed is sown as early az
March; in the c:ntral counties sbon,
the first Of April while in o,,r northern
districts, md in Wisconsin apd Min.
: nesota, from the 25th Of April to the
10th Of May, is early enough gcncr
|, ally. 81 s.... 0'.'
/ Having prepared tic ground as be
fore stated, sow broadcast, taking
lpains to distribute the seed as evenl,
as possible. The quicker the sect
terminates and appears above grount
= the better, and therefore j, should b.
covered slightly with light harrow %
h brush, aud then rolled. Tie larges
e crops raised in this State have beer, b,
farmers vino never harrow after sow
/ ing, but merely roll it in. The roll;n.
- an important matter, a. it viii fac;li
tate the operations of the r.a,or .n.