The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1875-05-01
EInA ('ulfurc.

Flax Culture.
A correspondent of Kansas paper
says: Our experience and knowledge of
flax raising only goes as far as going
through the process of raising it for the
fiber, and not for the seed, yet we shall
venture the following suggestions: The
ground should be plowed medium
depth, say six or seven inches, and
thoroughly pulverized before the seed
is sOwn, and as good plan for pulver-
izing ground is to follow close up to the
pillow with a drag, that is, not let the
ground lay more than day after it is
plOwed, before you drag it with heavy
scantling or straight pole, or (Which is
better two poles ten feet long fastened
three feet behind the other, and as
heavy as two horses can conveniently
draw. This leaves the surface smooth
and level, which will ena1le you to SOW
the seed broadcast evenly over the
ground and cover it a uniform DEPTH
two very important points to be OBJ
served in sowing flax, as it then comes
up, grows and ripens uniformly; where
as, if it is sown on uneven, cloddy
ground, some of the seeds will be
covered SO deeply that they will not
come up for week or two Of ever
after the seed nearest the surface; con
sequently will only be in bloom when
that which came up first Will be ready
to cut
1t should be sown as early as the
ground becomes sufficiently warm, and
there is no prospect for any more freez-
LOT ri nf -
enough if the weather is warm and
open; many SOW it much later here. but
early crops are almost always the best,
hence flax seed sown early, if not blight
ed by frost afterward, will yield a better
crop than that sown late. 1t should be
brushed or narrowed very lightly, and
there should be about three pecks OF
seed sOwn to the acre.
Our farmers here who first went into
raising it only sowed oRe-half bushel to
the acre, but this was found to be to1
little. We believe the same mistake in
sowing all kinds OF small grain has been
practiced by our farmers; we scarcely
ever see a field OF wheat harvested but
that a third more yield could have been
secured on the same ground, if sufficient
perfectly smooth, SOW little less than
three pecks Of flax seed, and you Will
not miss 1t.
Almost all the ground III this art OF
the state is rich enough for flax, but ii
viii no do to SOW flax on the same
ground two years in succession, as it
will yield but little, if any, seed the
second year; but after a rotation OF
other crops for a few years, you may
raise as good crop of flax on the same
ground AS ever.
The yield to the acre averages about
from ten to twelve bushels, yet last year
several fields here Welded sixteen to
seventeen bushels. A correspondent in
the Lawrence Standard says: The straw
is worth from So to IS ton for feed
regards it fully equal to clover hay for
cattle, and the yield of straw is from
one to two and half tons per acre. 1t
should be cut when two-thirds of the
belers are blown. and if cut with a
reaper the punches should lie from five
to seven days, or until thoroughly cured,
when it should be stacked or threshed.
Thresh right from the field, as it is very
easy to shatter ont, and every time you
handle ii you lose some seed.
The expense of harvesting crop of
flax is not SO great as that of wheat or
oats, and it does not have TO be bound
or shocked. 1t is also free from the
''pesky" chinch bug. 1t also leaves the
ground in good condition for wheat, as
it clears the ground of nearly all the in
sects that are injurious to this crop.
A correspondent of the Kansas Farm
er thinks that there could be more
made raising flax for the fiber than there
is for the seed.
If the seed is sown early in the spring
(as soon as there is no danger to be ex-
pected from frost), and gets growth of
a few inches before dry weather sets III,
good crop may be looked for. And
when the fiber goes through the process
necessary to separate it from the straw
and is properly scutched, IT should pro
duce from 400 to 600 pounds per acre,
or even more. And this, in the Irish
market, would be w.rth from so to
$40 per hundred, according to quality.
Choice Recipes.
RICE PUDDING WITHOUT EGGS. Put
U i ] Il. L