Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1863-02-27

your lists Of officers. We hope cur Butte,
friends will prosper with their Club.-Ed.
-->>--
f FLAX 0ULTURB. ! i
SsM-PliPARATfoN OF SoiL-.SowlSa-QuAS
Tlrr o. SEsD-TIvE OF Currlxa-MoDE Of
CrrriNa-MoDE or TRRxsnrxa-C MING
SEHD-YRiD PyI AcRs-Cosf or PRoDUc
rioN--CEsrAlxrY OF the CsoP. .-
The numerous inquiries now being made
upon the subject Of fax culturs, show that
more general attention ia being given to il
than ever before, and in order to meet and
answer these inquiries, the practical expert.
ence Of some hundreds Of hax growers in
Illinois and the adjoining States, has been
obtained through series Of questions sent
out for written answsrs, and the substance
Of them has been condensed for this paper.
It has been accomplished at no little expense,
and we trust our country exchanges will take
pains to widen the circle Of readers By free
extracts Or BY publishing the entire slticl~.
Flax prefers rich sandy soil but will do
we'll on any ground that is suitable for wheat
Or corn.
The rolling prairies Of the West are well
adapted to it, aud in ordinary dry ssasons il
does finely on even our Hat ptairies, as also
large tracks in Wisconsin, Minnesota and
Iowa afford the best sell for fax.
PREPARATION or SOIL.
All experienced farmers unite in stating
one thing - essential to success in growing
asx-i. .. thorough preparation Of thu
ground BY blowing and narrowing" In
most European countries it is sown as the
6rst or fallow crop, (whcre . system Of 70
tation 10 adopted.) and xlways followed by
wheat. When this is done the land should
DO plowed the summer previous and then re
ploughed a. early in the spring a the wealth
er will permit, and well narrowed before
sowing. .....
II heavy manuring is to be done, ii will
be better to put on corn hrst, and then fol
low that with fax, in which case land should
be deeply ploughed in the fall. In answer to
OF the farmers say, "let it follow corn" AND
but one objection is urged against it, which.
is that the old roots and stalks of corn inter
fsre with the close working Of machine IL,
cutting it. II those are carefully removed.
We should advise in the language Of our r.
plies, "let it follow corn" with deep full
blowing, and then narrowing before sowing,
until the surface is thoroughly pulverizcd
and made % smooth rs possible.
.....- SOWING.
As to the time Of sowing, it will Of cours,
vary with the latitude and locality hut the
general rule may be stated in the precis.
language Of several farmers-''as soon As III.
ground will admit Of it." ~-.- ---...
In the southcTR part Of Illinois most Of tn
seed is sown - carly as March. in the cen
trail counties about the first of April, Will,
in our northern districts, and in Wisconsin
and Minnesota, from the 25th of April to tn.
10Th Of May il early enough generally.
Having prepared the ground as before sta
ted, SOW broadcast, taking pains to destribut,
the seed a. evenly a. possible. The quicke,
the seed terminates and appears above groun.'
the better, and therefore it should be cover
e slightly with light harrow or brush, ant
then rolled. The largest crops raised in thi.
State have been BY farmers who never hsr
row after sowing, but merely roll it in. Tn
rolling in 10 an important matter, ~ il vi,
facilitate the operation of thc)reap.r and en-.
bic you to secure greater length Of straw
which adds to its value.
The quantity Of seed per acre to be sown
will depend upon the leading object Of tn
farmer in raising tho crop. II the seed il.
the main thing with him, then two pecks t.
the acre is the almost unanimous testimon.
Of those who have grown it longest ano mos
largely. II fiber Is thr object then of cours.
the seeding should be heavier. For tn.
presept, the safest rule for our western far
mers Is from two to three pecks to the acrr
the leading idea being ~ yet to secure tn,
greatest amount of seed.
QUALITY o. SEED.
Too much pains cannot be taken to re-
that which is fully matuYed, and perfect,
clean-frce from al foul seeds-both to se
cure good. understandable crop. and to pre-
serve the land on which il is sown from
troublesome weeds.
TINE OF CUTTING.
Flax should be cut Is soon % tho bo:ls BE-
gin to turn brown, and while the stalk is ye
green. II left standing too long there vii
DO great loss Of seed in harvesting.
MODE OF CUTTING.
~ tVW S8tWCSW 01SbWCScu VuI Q0VouUU "
this head, With CRADLE" but large majo,i
ty said, with machine" And from III
number Of reApers mentioned % working We.
We are persuaded that almost al our standar,
machines can b used to s.lvantage in cur
ting fiax. When it il raised principally e
the ssed there 10 no necessity for binding !
q great saving in time and expense as con
pared with harvesting wheat, when Eve o
sir men ere required to bind after the reape,
but may Be sinpiy rsked effinto gavels AM
liz. until az, when it il ready for thrcshin.
or stxcEing. As, while standing, il is les
Liable TO- damage from heavy showers thu,
wheat, 20 now when cut, it viii bear sever
rain with litslr detrimsnt, Il turned over u
forwards, 70 ~ sHDsevent the 6oats from &c,
ting into the dirt. Should tho weather con
tinue vet. il can BE- quickly dried in IN H.
val Of sunshine (therc Being no leaves to r.