Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1890-07-16
Raising Flax and How to Take Care of II

As there has been large amount
of flax sown in Stevens county and
vicinity, and as many of the readers
of the tribune are directly interested
in its allure and in Knowing how to
take care OF it to the best advantage,
the following circular letter Will be of
interest to them. TWAS sent us by
its author, s. III. Stevens, of the flax
seed inspection department, Chicago
Board of Trade, and dated June
18th, 1890:
To protect a matured field OF flax
by placing in stack at the proper time
Is test of the acumen and thrift of
the owner. 1t Is the ebert farmer who
rises to full comprehension of what
the critical period of flax farming de-
mands; his activity is stimulated by
the knowledge that neglect or a slight
delay in housing involves a depreci-
alton in value, and that it might be
the cause of the loss of his crop.
The solubility of flax seed in water
is such that its exposure to rain, how
ever slight, causes decreased weight
and lessened value, while heavy and
continued rains have frequently de-
stroyed all that was left unprotected.
Flax seed that has been exposed in
the field to the SUMS rays until 1t Is
dry to brittleness, still holds latent
moisture, which will develop when
the seed Is confined In mass and result
in heat and decomposition.
The above will explain to the coun-
try shipper why SO much of his new
seed grades "rejectedn and "no
| grade" A wagon-load of uncured
seed-although dry to the touch
will, when placed i'll Carer ware
house bin, in warm weather, become
dam dam and warm. Flax seed threshed
when in the dry condition described
above, is liable to be much broken
and pulverized; the stock will also
| break and be intermixed with the
seed, thereby increasing the impurity.
In the inspection analysis of such
broken and pulverized seed much
must be classed as fmpurity, to the
detriment of the shipper. The above
being true, the waste at the threshing
floor must be very large.
Look on the reverse side. Should
rain fall on flax exposed on the field
while waiting for the machine or fo1
other reasons, the straw becomes
rotten and great difficulty is encoun-
tered in threshing, and the seed Is I'M
fit for storage and will not grade
number one.
The reason why the Western Gull
tlvators of flax annually break down
the flax seed market by throw Ing
thereon In sixty day one-half Of the
crop, and that largely unfit for storage
has been an unsolved problem, but
the reason is found In that general
but ruinous habit of threshing from
the field-for to thresh Is to sell.
Having described some Of the at
tendant dangers, of the matured flax
crop, will suggest how these dangers
may be easily avoided.
Well dried fax when stacked is
reasonably secure, and is IN position
to yield good return for labor. The
sweat incidental to stacking passes
the seed to that indispensable condi-
ton necessary to storage. It also I'M
parts toughness oftbe seed covering
and straw, which protects the former
from breakage by the machine and
gives the latter a desirable plant
| tenacity.
| With the million acres of flax grown
in the west held well In hand, by
reason of being gathered In barns and
stacks, the owners, in place of break
down the market, might control 1t,
or, at least, they would be In a posi-
ton to take advantage ofany advance
The flax having been properly
stacked, 1t becomes by easy transition,
when threshing day comes, fiax-straw
stacks, retaining at least one-hali
the value it had before being deprived
of the seed.
| The coarse. uninviting fiax-straw
Is a true forage, as IL is eaten with
avidity and relish by all kinds Of
stock, giving a vigorous growth to
the young; a healthy, thriving con-
dition to the full-grown, and shin
ing coat to all. which Is admirable
proof thai Its constituents are In
harmony with their organism.
But the above Is the least OF It's
| value. It has impoverished the
farmers acres, but Is prepared to re-
pay with interest. It Is estimated
that each acre of fiax grown takes
from the soil fifty pounds of alkalles
and twenty pounds of phospIoric
aoid, which shows that 1t lie most
exhaustive plant. The seed, which
lie the only part removed from the
farm. contain but q small portion OF
the mineral manures taken from> the
soil, therefore the fiax-straw retains
nearly all the ingredients withdrawn.
r.