The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-07-29
Flax.

OOme months ago we puOllSneu an
article upon the growing of flax for
fiber, and it was and is subject of con
siderable importance. But it receives
but comparatively little attention, for
there is very prevalent disposition to
shirk the labor necessary to produce an
article that manufacturers can use.
To do this requires a greater degree OF
care and the adoption of more thorough
methods than the majority of the farm
ers seem willing to give or adopt. The
production of seed alone appears to be
sufficient to satisfy the most of those
who grow the crop. In the article we
published. and to which we have re-
ferred, it may be remembered that
mention was made of the fact that at
one time company of eastern capital
lists erected a flax mill in a section of
the West in which there was fifty thous-
and acres annually under flax, but that
the enterprise had to be abandoned.
Now to one who is inexperienced, it
would be supposed that such a section
would guarantee the success of flax
mill. There was the mill and there was
the flax. Yet the undertaking was q
failure. And whyP Because the farm
ers of that section would not grow flax
for the fiber. The company said the
farmers would neither pull the flax,
keep the straw straight or treat it as it
deserved-that they seemed to be con-
tent to raise flax for the seed only. In
thus doing or rather in thus not doing,
the farmers of this section certainly did
not act in accordance with their own
interests. One of the great drawbacks
go lsNn ,.1f Of fnr. no.
is the want of market in many sections.
The business of manufacturing, which
at one time assumed considerable pro-
portions, has declined, as is well
known. and market for the fiber is not
always accessible. But in this instance
the market was brought to the very
door of the flax grower, and it is near
ly unaccountable that he did not
take advantage of it. 1t is estimated
that the neglect to grow flax for the
fiber upon the one million of acres de.
voted to the crop in this country, en-
tails an aggregate loss of about twenty
five millions of dollars, a sum, as will
be admitted, of sufficient importance
to attract attention to the subject of fax
growing for the fiber The time is
coming when we shall not be satisfied
to suffer this annual waste, and in the
meantime, the inquiries which fire.
quently come to us, in reference to flax
growing for seed, are noted with inter-
est, because they indicate that there is an
increasing interest in flax culture and
that beginners are getting themselves in
to pathway that will sooner or later
lead to handsome rewards. After awhile,
in this great fertile West, where crops
grow so luXuriantly, with a minimum
of care and labor, we shall learn to
economic by more thorough system
in the growing of all crops. Now we
are wasteful. We spread out over to
many acres, and lose the interest upon
the value of a great deal of our land, in
that we do not force our farms to yield
more. Gradually there is a reform
progressing in this direction. 1t is true
the progress is very slow, and thorough
reform will probably never be estab-
lished, while there is so much land that
we can almost have if we will simply
occupy it. But the American farming
population is too intelligent to permit
reckless waste to 60 on, even if there
are strong temptations to do so, with
out steadily increasing effort to check
it; and as a part of this effort, the con-
version of flax fiber into value, will
come. If the flax growers of the coun-
try will make it a point to produce fiber
that is tit for the mills, the mills will not
be long wanting.
Flax needs good soil and dry one
If it is naturally inclined to be wet it is
folly to attempt to grow flax upon it,
without first thoroughly draining it.
Usually good wheat soil is good flax
soil. 1t is an eXhausting crop, and the
soil ought to be new to it. The ground
should be thoroughly prepared, and the
sowing done in the spring as soon as
the soil is reasonably dry and warm.
The quantity of seed will differ accord
ing to the purpose for which the crop is
grown. If the production of seed is the
object, about a half or three quarters
of bushel to the acre can be used; if
the fiber is wanted, about bushel and
a half When a small quantity of seed
is used, the plants send out large
branches, which will produce many
seed bolls, but the fiber will not be very
good. But when larger quantity of
seed is used, larger number of plants,
of course, are produced, the plants grow
straight and tall, and produce a good
quality of fiber, but not much Seed
Western Rural.