The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1869-10-02
THE CULTURE OF FLAX.

THE CULTURE OF FLAX.
It is a little surprising that the cul-
ture of fax has not been more gener-
ally engaged in Oregon.
The more vared the products of any
country are, the greater its prosperity
must be. If weproduce many staples,
We can supply many wants. If We
possess many articles of commerce, we
shall always be assured prosperous
trade. This country, like all coun-
tries, has a various soil, and to ensure
economy in its enjoyment, we must oc-
,cupy it with vaTsoRs pursuits.
The culture of flax has employed a
large share of attention In the most
powerful and prosperous nations of the
earth. Its origin was coeval with that
of civilization in Egypt. The "spin-
dle' and the "distaff'' alluded to by
Solomon, attests its presence in Pales-
tine. 1t has fourished in all countries
and enjoys q place in oil histories. 1t
thIiyes under almost any degree OF
temperature, where vegetation exists.
Singular, though true, while it is cul'
tivated in the north of Europe in the
summer, it is an object of culture in
Egypt in the winter. In the latter it
is sown In the months of December and
January, and is harvested in April and
May; while in Russia it is sown In
April and May, and harvested in Au-
gust and September. The entire veg
etable kingdom affords no other in
stance of such wonderful; adaptabihty
to all places and seasons. And it
seems that nature thus invites its uni
verSal culture.
It is only of late years that the at
tenion of Oregon has been engaged in
this product, and that event has been
procured through the erection of oil
mills by few enterprising gentlemen
in Salem. It is rapidly assuming
something of Importance In few To-
calities where the experiment has been
tried. We ask attention to a very few
figures and facts. From practical
test made near Albany this season,
with certain variety of seed, it was
shown that 20 bushels of fax per acre
may be produced-a yield nearly equal
o the average wheat crop. This may
be sold, delivered in Albany, at 81, go
per bushel-quite equal to three
times the price of wheat. The expense
of raising and harvesting is not neces-
saria1y greater than that of the latter
staple. It may be cut with header,
like wheat, and with as small an .ex-
penditure of labor and time.
Again, Oregon and Washington Ter
ritory. it is estimated, consume annu-
ally $4,000 gallons of oil, for which
they pay to importers Tor have done so
prior to the manufacture at Salem) $75, :
000 This sum can be much more
proftably distributed among the farm
ers Of Oregon forrendering useful and
valuable the waste places of their farms,
than gwen to shippers, and commits
sion merchants, and producers, in other
States. Nor does it stop here. We
hayeaAlready begun to export, and, by
well directed energy, the quantity nee
essary for this purpose may be indefn-
itely increased.
AT this moment, while California is
taking commission on our wheat and
putting her own brands upon our
-four, we can exact handsome reve-
nue. from her for oil. And with the
completion of the North Pacific Rail
Road, there Will be offered us a rich
market In the North, in the Territories
East and In the Islands of the Sea.
We have said nothing of the culture
of hemp, which may IN the future be
of much greater importance than that
of the fax seed itself.