The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1863-04-16

CNE," FEBRUARY Is. 1868.
"a carefuland comprehensive statement
Of the methods Of fac culture, compiled
from numerous home sources, making 1t
ftts class one ofthe most complete ezhib.
it, ofthe subject euer put in print." ."-ED.
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, aud in order
to meet and answer these inquiries, the
practical expericpce Of some hundreds Of
fax growers in Illinois and the adjoining
States, has been obtained through series
Of questions sent out for written answers,
aud the substance of them has been con-
densed for this paper. 1t has been &C
complished at no little expense, and We
trust our country will take pains to widen
the circle of readers by free extracts or
BY publishing the entire article.
SOIL.
Flax prefers q 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
we'll adapted to it, and in ordinarily dry
seasons it does finely on even our fiat
prairies, though when such q vet season
as the last occurs, it will prove failure
on them, unless the laud is underdrained.
Experience shows that the land within
forty miles of Chicago, produce large
crops Of both seed and straw; hume, ous
fields having yielded fourteen to eighteen
bushels the last year. The rolling country
about Champaign, Decatur, Bloomington,
Wilmington, aud almost the entire
Northwestern portions Of this State, as
also large tracts 10 Wisconsin, Minnesota
and Iowa affords the best soil for flax.
PREPARATION OF SOIL.
All experienced farmers unite in stat
ing one thing as essential to success in
growing flake. "thorou yh preparation
Of the ground BY blowing and narrowing" "
10 most European countries it is sown as
the first or failow crop, (whcre a system
Of rotation is adopted, and always follow
ed BY wheat. When this is done the
land should be plowed the summer prev
ious and then reploughed as early in the
spring as the Weather will permit, and
we'll narrowed before sowing.
If heavy manuriug is to be done, it
will be better to put on coin first, and
then follow that with fax, in which case
the laud should be deeply ploughed in
the fall In answer to our inquiries on
this point, large majority of farmers
say, "lct it follow corn," and bu: one
objection is urged against it, which is
that the OIL roots and stalks of the corn
interfere with the close working 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 plowing, and then
narrowing before sowing, until the sur
face is thoroughly pulverizcd and made
as smooth as possible.
As to the time of sowing, it will of
course vary with the latitude aud 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 tho southern part Of this State most
of the seed is sown as early as March.
In the central counties about the lst Of
April, while in our northern districts,
and in Wisconsin and Minnesota from
the 25th of April to the 10th Of May is
early enough generally.
Having prepared tho ground as before
stated, sow broadcast, taking pains to
distribute the seed as evenly as. possible.
The quicker the seed terminates and sp-
pears above ground the better, and there
fore it should be coverd slightly with a
light harrow or brush, aud then rolled.
The largest crops raised in this State have
been by farmers who never harrow after
sowing, but merely roll lit in. The rolling
is an important matter, as it will facilitate
the operations of the reaper and enable
you to secure greater length OF straw,
which ADDS to its value.
The quantity Of seed per acre to
be sown, will depend upcu the leading
object of the farmer raising the crop II
the seed is tho main thing with him, then
two psoks to the acre il the almost unan-
imous testimony of those who have gro"n o
it longest aud most largely. II fibre is
the object, then of course the seeding
should be heavier. For the present, the
safest rule for our Western farmers is
from two to three pecks to tho acre, the
leading idea being as yet to secure the
greatest amount of seed.
QUALITY OF SEED.
Too much paias cannot be taken to get
that which is fully matured, and perfect
" clean--free from all foul seed-both to
secure good merchautable crop, aud to
preserve the land on which it is sown
from troublesome weeds. Farmers often
experience great difficulty in procuring
such seed, - no ordinary tanning mill
will remove some Of the worst enemies Of
the farmer and good fax.
It was this fact, more than any other,
that led to the system Of ''loaning seed
aud contracting the crop" which has
been 30 long practised in Ohio, 1ndi.na
and elsewhere. The !inseed oil manufac'
turer who receives tho crop Of large