New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1884-12-31
Flax Culture

To the Editor of the New Ulm RE.
VIEW: There is very general dispo.
sition among our farmers to greatly
increase the production of flax. The
crop was unusually excellent last season
and it has brought good price. Those
farmers who were fortunate enough
20 sow a large amount of fax, find
themselves in easy condition, while
the wheat grower is severely pressed
to make both ends meet. and many
lose money on the wheat crop. It is
material, therefor, to increase the crop
that has been profitable.
Now I do not wish to be understood
as proferring advise in this matter. I
have no more knowledge about it than
is accessible to everyone, but do wish
to offer some suggestions. No one will
be more pleased than myself to see our
farmers make money. Their interests
are mine, and no one can deny the
fact that my business depends wholly
upon the thrift and prosperity of the
farmer. II flax raising is profitable,
then I most certainly want them to
raise fax, and shall be most happy to
sell them the necessary machinery for
it, and flax culture requires good deal
of machinery as we'll as wheat culture.
But it seems to me that the farmer
should consider most carefully before
he greatly increases his flax acreage
especially at time when every body
seems strongly disposed TO do the
same. While the crop was very profit
able this year, it might have been no
better or even worse than wheat If it
had been twice as great. It now looks
as il throughout this section and west
clear into Dakota, the farmers are pre-.
pairing to SOW several times as much
fax as they did last year. The high
price as compared with other pro.
ducts will stimulate the production
everywhere.
Is it not, therefor, reasonable to
suppose that with fair crop the prlc.
es will be greatly reduced? The hard
times will prevent large building oper.
ations next year, and almost the only
use Of fax seed being to make oil for
paints, and there being a smaller de-
mand for paints and an increased sup.
ply Of oil, is it not certain that the
prices must 60 down! Itseems to me
that every one should consider very
carefully before he greatly increases
his fax production. Flax is hard on
land. The mustard that almost al
ways comes in fax is difficult weed
to get rid Of. Besides, fax takes a
good deal Of costly machinery.
STOCK RAISING.
Now while offer only suggestions,
not advise, Ia regard to flax and
wheat culture, in regard to stock I do
not hesitate to offer positive advise.
I have not, however, lost all faith in
wheat yet. It will not 60 out Of fash.
ion. The present low price will dis
courage production, another year
wheat may bring pretty fair price.
| It seems to me that it WOnld not be
wise to abandon wheat, although it
should not be raised so extensively as
heretofore. But / have noticed that
the farmer Who gives his attention to
stock raising invariably does well. I
therefore do not hesitate q moment to
advise every farmer to raise stock.
Cattle and horses now bring 9 good
price, and we have not seen the prices
LOT stock 50 low yet that the judicions
stock farmer did not make money. He
hires but little help, needs but little
machinery and the most important
item s. al is|that he keeps his farm
ingood prod tlxe condition, while
the wheat and1 eroyv ISL ths
time exhautIn1 his Arm Tllis i
stock count Wo have excellent
lands FOR grass and hay Oar
farlners hayel st tho ever abundant
llxnd oertain Drop. that costs
nothina O. 81 dscAy and destruction
when could a ily b means d
haYe = y tnrned into cs1h. Lst