The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1876-05-11
FLAX CULTURE.
ANDOvER, Mass, April, 1877

ANDOV Els, MASS, april, 1876.
EDITOR ADVANCE: Many of your
readers will remember the samples of
Russian and American flax exhibited
in your office last summer. You will
probably remember that I said that
the American was superior to the Rus
sian. The soil of Mobiles County is
well adapted to raising flax. The prin-
cipal features OF Il country adapted to
raising flax are, first, strong soil; Sec
ond, not subject to drouth; third, heavy
deHs for rotting the straw. The water
in the sloughs may be used for rotting
the straw. This last process is called
water rotting. This is done by placing
the straw in the water and letting it
remain for number Of days: It may
| then he taken out and spread on tile
ground to dry, then bundled up and
put III q dry place. During the winter
months the flax may be beaten out Of
the straw by hand, i'll the absence of
machinery. This is called hand scutch-
ing: Flax sells readily in New York
at from 10 to 20 cents pound, accord
ing to quality. n man could beat out
about ten pounds per day after doing
his chores. The straw will yield from
will yield from four to six hundred
pounds per ton of straw. 1t should be
sown thicker than if for seed, and on
the cleanest ground possible. It should
be cut us close to tHe ground us posi-
BILE. It must be cut before the seed
reaches maturity.
This is what Mr.. Miller and Mr..
Fleming say about American flax. l
have worked for MI. Miller in Dundee,
Scotland, and know something about
the extent OF his business. have seen
his statement in the New York -Tri-
bune. Messrs. Miller and Fleming, of
Dundee, Scotland, the former one of
the largest flax spinncrs of that city
and the latter extensively engaged in
! the importation of Russian flax, last
week met Peter Cooper and other gen.
tlemen interested iii the subject of
American flax culture. Specimens of
flax, hemp, jute and r.mie grown in
this country were examined by Miller
and Fleming and pronounced to be Of
excellent quality, equal to the best
Russian fibre. MIR. Miller said he could
use annually in his business 81 ,O0O, 600
worth of American flax of the quality
exhibited. MIR. Cooper introduced Gov.
Watson. who has made the subject of
flax growing and the manufacture Of
the flax product a study for 20 years.
Mr.. Watson submitted comparative
statistics showing the rapid gains the
United States had madeOyer Russia in
the expectation of wheat in the past
few years. In Is years (1S5S-72) the
| United States shipped to England q
per cent. of the wheat importation of
that country, and Russia "a per cent.
In nine months of 1874 the United
States supplied Great Britain with So
per cent. OF her wheat and Russia only
II per cent. The same land that yields
wheat will yield flax and hemp; and as
this country has surpassed Russia in
wheat growing, MI. Watson declares
she can also surpass her in the expor-
tati0n Of flax. Yet this country allru.
ally imports from Russia $4,000, 900
worth Of flax and hemp which could lie
raised Oh American soil. That flax is
the most profitable crop for the farmer
is shown, Mr.. Watson says, by the ag-
ricultural statistics. In Monroe Coun-
ty, Ohio, for example, flax yields $40
per acre; wheat, $l4.51; oats, $1O.37;
and corn $11.41; and in all soils adapted
to flax, from Minnesota to the Gulf it
was the most profitable crop raised.
Prepared flax sells freely in the New
York market at about $500 per ton and
q leading importer in this city states
that when he can obtain Western flax
i'll the quantities which he wants he
will cease importing it from Russia.
! With the new :macllinery-the flax
puller and decosticator for preparing
hax-Mr. Watson believes revolution
will be effected in the business. and
that these machines will do for flax
growing what the reaper has done for
the grain trade of America. He conf
IDENTIFY expects that when the culture
aud value of fax are understood by
American farmers they will successfully
compete with Russia. MIR. Cooper who
has also given the subject much atten-
ton tor i number. of years, and lmrtic-
ular]y the improvement oftlax macl.ill.
cry, fully supported. Mr.. Watson's
views. and has great faith III tile future
development Of this industry. Mr..
! Miller expressed much interest iii tile
statements made, and was convinced
from his Investigations that American
IN, In u ;e,A., I.,A.