The Morgantown monitor. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1863-1864, 1863-03-28
From the Chicago Tribune.]

Pyoduction-Certainty Of Crop.
From the Chicago Tribune.]
The numerous inquiries now being
made upon the subject Of fax culture
show that more general attention is
being given to it than ever before,
and in order to meet and answer
these inquiries, the practical expert
ence of some hundreds of flax grow
ers in Illinois and the adjoining
States, has been obtained through a
series of questions sent out for writ
ten answers, and the substance Of
them has been condensed for this pa
per. 1t has been accomplished at no
little expense, and we trust that our
country exchanges will take pains to
widen the circle of readers by free
extracts or by republishing the en-
tire article.
Flax prefers a rich sandy soil; but
will do we'll on any ground that is
suitable tor wheat or corn.
The rolling prairies Of the West
are we'll adapted to it, and in ordl-
nary dry seasons it does finely even
on our fat prairies, though when
wet season occurs such as the last, it
will prove frilure on them, unless
the land is underdrained. Expert
ence shows that the land within forty
miles of Chicago produces large
crops of both seed and straw; hume
rous fields having yielded from II to
IS bushels the last year. The roll
ing country about Champaign, De-
catur, Bloomington, WILMINGTON,
and also the Western and the North
western portions of this State, as al
so large tracks in Wisconsin, Min
nesota and Iowa afort the best soil
for fax.
PREPARATION OF SOIL.
All experienced farmers unite in
stating one thing as essential to sue
cess in growing flax-i.e. "thorough
preparation of the ground by plow-
ing and narrowing" In most Eu-
ropean countries it is sown as the
first or fallow crop (where system
of rotation is adopted) and is always
followed by wheat. When this is
done the land should be plowed the
summer previous and then re-plowed
as early in the spring as the weather
will permit, and well narrowed be-
fore 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 answer to our inquiries on this
point, a large majority Of farmers
say, "let it follow CORN and but
one objection is urged against it,
which is that the old roots and stalks
of corn Interfere with the close work
ing of machine in cutting it. If
those are carefully removed, we
should advise in the language of our
replies, "let it follow corn" with
deep fall blowing and then harrow
ing before sowing, until the surface
is thoroughly pulverized and made
as smooth as possible.
SOWING.
AS to the time of sowing, it will
of course vary with the latitude and
locality; but the general rule may
be stated in the precise language of
several 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 as
March. In the central counties
about the first week in April, while
in our northern districts from the
25th of April to the 10th of May is
early generally.
Having prepared the ground as
before stated, SOW broadcast, taking
pains to distribute the seed as evenly
as possible. The quicker the seed
terminates andappears above ground
the better and therefore it should be
covered slightly with light harrow
and then rolled. The largest crops
IN this State have been raised by far |