American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-01-30
Flax Culture.

THE growing interest in flax culture is
one more indication that the farmers are
waking up to the necessity for diversity
of crops. The days when the true farmer
will raise only corn, wheat and oats are
gone by, and all those who know their
own best interests see that they must
not continc themselves to the production
of only one or two crops. Flax supplies
the place of another variety of paying
crop, SO that if one fails there will be
something to fall back on. The culture
of flax is as simple and easy as that of
wheat, and is not as exhaustive to the
land. In 1878 the United States paid to
foreign countries 81, S23, 026 in gold for
flax, raw and manufactured. There is no
reason why we should pay this large
amount for articles which can just as
well be raised and manufactured at
home. Our soil and climate are well
adapted to the production of flax, and
we might, with the same prOpriety, neg
lect the culture of corn or wheat, and de-
pend on other nations for supply of
these articles. Flax is a very quick crop
the producer can receive his money
within four months from the time OF
sowing the seed, and is one of the best
crops to prepare the land for winter
wheat. Following flax with corn is not
generally recommended. The selection
OF soil for flax depends somewhat on the
object in view to raising the crop. If
seed alone is wanted the best yield can
be obtained from dry, rolling, moderate
ly rich land. If straw is wanted, choose
moist, rich land, such as our creek and
river bottoms. The land should be
clean from weeds, and if some cleaning
crop, such as corn, turnips, or po-
tatoes, was raised on the land the
year previous so much the better.
On dirty land the expense of raising and
harvesting the crop will be more than
doubled. The land should be plowed in
the fall, and, if possible, again in the
spring. The soil must be put in the
finest possible condition and be made
smooth and mellow before the flax is
sown. The seed should be covered with
u brush harrow or roller, as. if covered
too deep, it will not come well. A heavy
rain Immediately after sowing will cover
the seed sufficiently, provided the soil be
very fine and mellow. Great care should
be taken to procure seed of good quality.
1t should be fully matured, plump aud
glossy, and free from foul seeds. Ii fiber
is desired SOW from two to two and a
half bushels to an acre; ii good seed is
desired, from sixteen to twenty quarts
will be sufficient. If sown too thick the
heads will be smaller AMI not as well
filled with seed. The seed should be
sown as soon after the LIST of April as
the ground is in proper condition.
Flax should be cut as soon as the bolls
begin to turn brown; as, if left standing
too long, there will be a great loss of seed
in harvesting. 1t may be cut with al
most any reaper, and if raised princi
pally for seed there is no necessity for
binding it, but it may be left in gavels
until dry, when it is ready for threshing.
1t is better to thresh early. For thresh
ing some use a fail; others tramp out
the seed with horses; while others
use the common threshing machines,
with some slight alterations. The
average yield is from twelve to
fifteen bushels per acre. Flax is often
sown with barley. The barley should be
sown first and narrowed in; afterward
the flax is sown and rolled or covered
with brush harrow. In this way a
yield of from fifteen to twenty bushels
of barley and from ten to twelve of flax
can be obtained; and by the use of
proper screens the barley and flax can be
readily separated.
AT present prices flax straw is worth
but little, excepting near factory.
Where there are Inconvenience for the
manufacture of flax the straw is worth
from 81 to SO per acre. Flax seed is
now worth about $1.7O per bushel. The
culture of flax is rapidly increasing in
the United States. In 1850 the value of
linseed oil manufactured was 81 ,946 ,934,
and in 1S70it had increased to IS, SOL ,962.
But the neglect of utilizing the stalks
has been Il great loss to the country.
The establishment of manufactures for
using flax straw would add greatly to
the wealth of the country, not only by
manufacturing the linen goods which we
now import, but by giving to farmers an
increased value for their flax crop. When
the straw cannot be sold the culture of
flax is still Ilo-e profitable that wheat
culture, and it adds one more crop to the
rotation which should be practlced on
every wellconducted farm-RurdkW World.