The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-31
The cultivation Of Flax.

From Frank s. shuncks Pamphlet on the Flax
Plant.
There is no crop grown by the farmer that is
any easier of cultivation than flax, and none that
| is more certain of good returns; none as free
from the multitudinous dangers besetting their
crops, the favoTableness of the season alone be-
ing necessary to assure its success. the proper
preparation of the soil and sowing of the seed
being granted.
The cultivation is simple. the labor required
to grow and harvest it is no more than is neces-
saTy to secure crop of grain and it has some
advantages over wheat, that it can be sown and
in three months the farmer can realize on his
crop, besides not being obliged in nearly all
parts of the county, to make an outlay for his
seed-fax-mill men invariably furnishing the
seed to be sown, and only stipulating that they
get the seed in return, with the additional
amount produced by paying tho regular market
price, or as much as any other dealer or con-
surner win pay for the same seed when har
vested.
Flax will grow on any kind Of soil that viii
produce wheat oats, barley, corn or potatoes.
but experience has demonstrated that the most
favorable results from its cultivation have been
obtained when sown on mellow soil-not too
wet nor too sandy. In Dakota and other West
ern States and Territories the most satisfactory
not to say surprising results have been secured
by sowing on newly broken Land. 1t also pro-
duces largely on new timber elearings. especially
where the timber has been burned off of the
hardwood ashes is one of the very best fertil-
strated that the artificial application Of ashes to
the land after FAX is sown has resulted most sat
isfactorily
One of the largest consumers of fax IN Chi
eago told the writer recently that ten bushels of
unleached wood ashes to the acre would produce
largely of seed of most excellent quality. His
experiences, when a young man on his fathers
farm in Wisconsin, where flax was sown on
cleared timber land, demonstrated that the very
best results were realized where the ashes
we're bqSd ppf1 N 10 ar sinh
sequent observations have further established
this to be true. l think. however. that ten bush
els is in excess of the requirements of the
soil, but that even and careful distribution of
half that quantity, with say one bushel of salt
to the acre, is sufficient and will make hand
some return for the extra labor in spreading the
same.
Every farmer should utilize this valuable nu-
triment to the soil few of them but make more
or less ashes during the year. and by providinga
cheap place for storing the same has shortly ac-
eumulated quantity OF the most valuable ad-
junets to rich fertilizer and one that, compar
atively speaking costs him nothing The flax
field should be given the advantage of being as
smooth and level as the surroundings win admit
hilly land should be avoided, as tax will not
grow evenly upon it. Too much care of the
preparation of the soil can not be had, and while
fax will grow unoef any ordinary condition of
the ground that other crops will grow on, adegp
er tillage and thorough pulVerization will secure
wonderfully increased results from the same
field. With this care 10 preparing the ground
fax can be probably grown on any kind ofland
with, perhaps, the exception Of a peaty soil with
out clay foundation or on a sandy soil with a
gravelly bottom. Make careful and thorough
cultivation of your land, clear it Of all foreign
substances; weeds are detriment to any crop
and should be especially eliminated from the
flax field.
Pillow deep. the deeper the better. and harrow
as many times as possible; two or three harrow
ings put the soil in a much better condition for
the sowing Of fax, making it fine and smooth
The subsoil should be exposed to the action Of
the atmosphere and frosts. For this reason a
deep blowing in the fall would be best, where
this is possible to be followed in the spring by
cross-plowing and narrowing fine. Clay soil
should not be plowed when wet as it becomes
lumpy, rough and uneven, making the growth of
the crop irregular In any case the Land should
be rolled after being thoroughly narrowed, in
order to more completely pulverize all the clods
and Jumps that yet remain on top