The weekly Butte record. [volume] (Oroville [Calif.]) 1866-1887, 1866-10-06
Culture Of Flax.

Among the numerous commodities which con-
tribute in form or another to the clothing He-
cessities of the human race there is no single pro
duet Of greater importance than the LtnuHa Usita-
tissiHsur, or what is better known the Flax Plant
There certainly Is material susceptible Of tex
tile adaptation more closely identified with the
progress Of civilized man, none which has been so
uniformly snbservient to his wants, ard which,
through all the vissitudes of climate, change Of To-
eality and the various phases of his industrial er
camille and social career, has been so readily and
so usefuliy convertible into fabrics. either by ma
chinery or By hand. Bat the marked success with
which its manufacture has been crowned in modern
times has mainly been achieved by industrial Ell
ergy which has ever formed the best capital Of ma
tons and the true basis of individual wealth. Oar
own experience is a mineral State, the richest and
most extensive one known. has demonstrated that
our prosperity must be founded agricultural,
manufacturing and mercantile pursuits, and that
the spontaneous riches of cur soil available
" as they contribute to the advancement Of those
interests
The history of Flax belongs to nearly every ma
ton of the globe and may be traced from Egypt,
5000 years ago to Palestine a. is attested by Solo
mon, when abiding to the distaa' and the spin
die" in the working of Flax By the "virtuous wo-
man. Il formed the principle staple of the com
meree and manuii ctures of Tyre and Sidon in
Phoenicia. in Greece Marsees and Rome.
The fax plant in short, has administered to
the material wants of civilized man through every
stage of his mingled career. and is capable of be-
ing converted by his skill into the finest as well as
the humblest rainent he possibly can require
Moreover, from its fexibiity or power to thrive
under almost every degree of temperature incident
to vegetation, it grows in all countries, from the
neighborhood of the tropics to the northern polar
circle wherever the air is not chilled by mountain
elevations, maintaining healthy condition vary
ing only with occasional atmosphereric peculiar.
ties; but in some situations it is found among the
spontaneous products of the soil. 1t may be
thought strange, perhaps, that this plant should
thrive in the hot valley of the Nile, and in regions
cold as those Of the north of Russia, in the 65th
parallel Of latitude; but this circumstance is ex-
plainable when we consider how rapidly this pro-
duct completes the cycle of its growth and that
in the north of Europe il is an object of culture
only in summer, and in Egypt in the winter, being
sown in the latter in December and January just
as the Nile has quilted the fields and is harvested
the following April or May. In the north of Russa
it is sown in April and May, and harvested in Aug
ust and September; the conditions of the climate
of tie two places at those periods being nearly
the same.
Judicously managed, where the labors of the
farm are not suffered to encroach one upon anoth-
er, and looking forward to the convenience and
benefits that would result therefrom, perhaps there
is no individual crop which requires so little skill
and attention that affords so ample remuneration
for the outlay: for if due be taken with respect
TO assoement, rotation good tilth with the prop
er manuring or amendments for serial crops of
healthy and vigorous growth an occasional breadth
of flax would yield to the farmer as profitable
return As a harvest of roots, hay, or grain.
1t is cultivation here, aside from being a source
of profit to the agrculturist would lead to the
of linen, and the conversion of the seed
into Oil. Men who are familiar with the manufac-
ture of linseed oil. ready anxious to commence
its manufacture here in Orovle if our farmers will
only turn their attention to the cult walton of the
fax. 1t is believed that the producer would soon
ind market for both seed and straw. leaving the
subsequent processes of conversion to those who
have special establishments for the purpose. These
would spring up with the culture of the article,
and new resources would be added to our State,
and large number of hands would derive incalcu-
liable benefit from their labor. II fourishes in all
climates and soils that will produce good Indian
corn. and'Gke other former products, bears reas-
enable relation to the cost of production.