The Goodhue volunteer. [volume] (Red Wing, Goodhue County, Minn.) 1861-1864, 1863-03-18
AGRICULTURAL.
Flax Raising.
QUALITY OF SEED.

QUALITY OF SEED.
Too much pains cannot be taken to get
that which is fully matured, and perfectly
clean, free from all foul seeds, both to So
cure good merchandise crop, and to pre-
serve the land on which it is sown from
troublesome weeds. Farmers often expert
ence great difficulty in procuring such seed
as no ordinary tanning mill will remove
some Of the worst enemies of the farmer and
good flax.
1t was this fact, more than any other that
led to the system Of "loaning seed and con-
tracing the CROP" which has been so long
practiced in Ohio, Indiana and elsewhere
The linseed oil manufacturer who re-
ceiVes the crop Of large section Of country
is enabled to select choice lots of seed and
reserve them for sowing, and then by
machinery too expensive and cumbrous for
ordinary use, to clean it so thoroughly thai
he can gin out each year an almost perfect
article Of sowing seed. Of the superiority
of such seed over what can ordinarily be CD.
tanned in the market and evin at seed
stores, we are convinced by examing sam
pie before us of that which f. w. Batch
ford Esq, proprietor of the "Chicago Lead
and Oil Works." is preparing for his GUS
toners for sowing the coming spring. Of
course when manufacturer furnishes such
seed year after year. requiring for it only
the return of an equal amount of merchant
able quality, he cannot be expected to stipu-
late price for the balance of the crop, be.
yond the ordinary average, taking series of
years into the account-aDd it is upon this
basis that the business has been conducted
hitherto, and it is still continued to the &C.
ceptance Of majority Of the farmers in
the flax growing districts. In this connec-
ton We would add, that with good seed to
SOW, there is nothing like fax as prepar-
atory crop for wheat. The testimony of
Ohio farmers, where fax has been extern
sively grown for over quarter of centu.
~, is explicit on this point, and to this fact
we would call the especial attention OF our
Illinois and Wisconsin farmers, whose
wheat growing for some time has been so
diseeuraging.
TIME OF CUTTING
Flax should be cut as soon as the hollis
begin to turn brown, and while the stock is
yet green. If left standing too long there
will be great loss Of seed in harvesting,
MODE or CUTTING '''
A lew farmers answered orr questions on
this head, with cradIc;;" but large major
ity said "wth machine" And from the
number Of reapers mentioned as working
we'll, we are persuaded that almost all our
standard machines can be used to advan-
tage in cutting fax. When It is raised
principally for the seed there is no necessity
for binding it "a grea: saving in time and
expense as compared with harvesting
wheat, when five or six men are required
to bind after the reaper). but may be
simply raksd off onto gayels and lie and
dry, when it is ready for stacking Or thresh-
ing. AS while standing it is less liable to
damage from heavy showers than wheat,
30 now when cut it will bear severe rain
with little detriment, if turned over after
wards, SO as TO prevent the bolls from get
ting into the dirt. Should the weather
continue wet. it can be quickly dried in
an interval Of sunshine (there being no
caves to retain moisture) and then stacked
using hay for topping off, in which shape it
may stand, if necessary, until cold winter
before thresh,ng, though it is better to
thresh early, SO as to have September or
October for dew rotting the straw.
MODE OF THEKsHIsG.
"With fall" said a few Germans. in
the vicinity Of Chicago, who have raised
some Of the finest crops on record, but
the rest were divided almost equally
between threading out with horses'' and "a
machine" in some sections, and those
where they have raiscd most, and for Tho
longest time, they report rs difficulty in
using machines with sore slight alterations
to suit better the nat IRE Of the corp; but We
are Of opinion, in view Of 81, the answers
received, that, Tor tho ordinary run Of farm
ers, and tie small amount raised BY each
threading ont" may Be safely, recommend.
ed IS the simplest and cheapest method
When this is done, howeyer, great care
should Be used 70 prepare flor 50 that
the seed shall be Kept from gss.iisg mixed
With vt dir, which iss great apa serious
fault with large proportion 81 hat which
is brought to this market. Then, two IN.
ordinary tfreshiug machine, wiz give you,
only tangled fax. which IS 4s,xsys Of les.
value than straight, 80 that IL the straw L.
heavy, i wiipzy batter 10 bind in bundles
IsDd tired Oh, thu. keeping the stray in.
good shape for spreading 10 rot and TO sell.
AZ SsrA1Rfsk Fire 80 sfshs 1,c0d aot,so end ,.