, 1875-02-12

1d hG Editor Of The Chicago Tribune:
ELK GnuyE, ILL.,, Fob. 8.--AB tho subject Of
fax-oillsure through tho medium Of tile public
papers. is receiving considerable attention. md,
as the remarlsa Of some Of tile writer's do not at
all agree with my observations, I will try to sot
forth wherein differ in opinion with them. One
writer sAys he las ra,iBcd tlHx for ton yearH, aud
doeB not think It exhaustive as oats another,
that 1t docs not exhaust tho soil as much as
wheat. Now, think I can show beyond doubt
that either wheat or oats do not exhaust tho aoii
Of its growing properties hnlf al much us lax i;
for instance, hnyo known somo fnr1ne,a BoY
oats five or aiI successive years on the sa1ne soil
aud then, by rotation Of cropping, succeed in
getting fair amount OF produce and so with
wloat with ! similar Iesult; but not 80 with
fax.
a few years ago. and within a short distauoh
OF here, q nonresident rented 81 acres Ut land
to 4 man for o yearly rental, without having ANY
artioles Of agreement or restriction, rs to how
It should bo tarmed. There way over 50 aerss
under plow, aud the tenant soHea it MI to na1.
The crop WAS good ono, aud paid him well. Io
aowsd it again to fax, but had not 10 good
drop a. the irut but tho advance iu tho p1ce Of
seed made it d paying crop, aud he matlo up his
mind to Bow 1T again. This crop was much in
fe1ior to liz first crop, but ho attributed tho
failure to tue "pcouliar season." AZ ha called it,
and, a. it had hithorto been profitable, 10 ttiou
it q fourth tina; but, to his utter dEappoiut-
ment tho crop Was almost worthless. The
no1t year he planted soma Of tho land to corn.
and the remainder to wheat and oats. Tile corn
was no largcr than popcorn, and the what hnd
oats we're scarcely worth harvesting, Hhile other
farmers around were having 1lua crops. sup-
pose ho had never studied cause and effect untit
now but he made up his mind the land was
"gono up, and he did not want to firm 1t any
longer. Could he only have naen the immense
quantity Of oil. lnseod-cake, aud sttaw, taken
from that hoil, he would net bayo been at \ loBs
to find out what was the nlatter. Tie year fol-
lowing il could not bo r0nted at all aud. rhen /
passed 1t, III the month Of August, 1t mas covered
with weeds and rubbish.
There is NJ doubt but 1a1-growing has been
profitable ~ regards dollars aud cents, aud it
would not impoyerish the soil near 90 much
by proper rotation Of cropping. I would
not recommend fax to be sown oftener than once
In five years on tho same soil, Without applying
manure during tue time Of oroppinG.--mJ object
being to keep tlla soil iu good STATE Of qultiyA.
tion for other crops. The exhaustive properties
Of flax on the soli moro teHtel repeatedly, ycArs
ago, n Eugiand; aud the result was, tllat most
of the great landowners obieUte1 to have it
HoMn Oh thair catatoH ut Ill, aud their lsul-
stewards we're directed to make tho agreements
between landlords aud tennutB accordingly. In
travelling from York 10 London by o0nch, and
theuce to Oxforl,-a distance Of ESQ mllss--I
did not obsoste more than few acres at tiax or
hemp.
Whi1o III Belgium. Iapent day or tvo IN tho
rural districts betwoen Antwerp and brussels,
aud hAw great quantity OF dax In proportion
to other crops; but their manner Of fertiIizin9
the soil, and keeping it In good condition,
" superior to atY method have seon praoticed
IN other countries. Tho fax Ia mostly pulled By
hand, befors ii iB fully ripe, In order 10 make
Whita linea Of the fibre. The bola oou1ajr,lpg
tho Heed are pulled OF by drawing it In hanfuiY
through = ripple. Tho straw IL tlon tied in bun
alea' aud cartea into Q pond, Wilero 1t remains
ton or twelve days, It IL thcn taken Out. aud
spread IL rows on grass, until tha 1lbro will ae1,-
aEHte from the btittls part OF tho straw, aud,
when Dry, IL il taken into tue barn or otLar
pultdnNt and worked into hax,-thus arnrding
employment III tie win.er-ssason tor ate small
farmers who grow it. They are 80 saving Of
LIQUID M manure S that the water ln the ponds
"hero the haz Las been stepped Ii drawn out in
water.carts and spraad On the land. Tic bolly
containing Inc seed A1s spread Oh fIoors until
the seed II mstured, after which tAey arc ornshsd
with beAtars, aud ths whole Ia nut tllrouoh q
tanning mill TO separate tho aeed from, tla ehaif,
and ths latter IA ~ much valued by them as
wheat-branl they. gsnerxlIy gi.e It to tIeir
milch.co"s, aud Informed me tint it made than
give Al abundance OF milk. Th,u haya nrovatj
to : small sxtant myself, and ahiuk il
great loss to tho farmers Of this country in nat
being ablo to separate it from The ttraw vhils
being put through the threalipx -naohino.
N. L, CuuTla