The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-10-17
FLAX D1sEAsH.
It IL Thoroughly Diagnosed, hat Ne
Remedy Re presentad


Early in May of the present year large
number Of the citizens of the southwestern
pnrt of Minnesota especially Of Jackson aud
Cottonwood counties. presented q petition
to Gov. Merriam, asking for his assistance
IN discovering some cure or prevention for
the disease which las affected so disss.
trously the flax crop in that quarter. Gov.
Merriams interest In these matters, and the
service done by him to the farmers of the
Northwest last year in the investig on
through the professors of the experiment
station fthc grades Of wheat most desira.
bic for use i'll the Red river valley, made his
assistance in the matter of the flax disease
seem probable means of relief.
The governor re erred the petition to the
board OF regents of the state university, and
the matter WAS placed in the hands Of Mr..
Otto Lugger, of the experiment station, who
Yesterday submitted his report No cure
has As yet been found, but the possibility OF
prevention is made to seem feasible, and
iurther experiments are to be made in the
next three months. Mr.. Luggcr's report,
which is addressed to the governor, opens
as follows:
One Of the most important branches OF farm.
ing III the state OF Minnesota at least in its
more nor southern portions. is the cultivation Of
~ Mas' !, not Tor ,s fiber but chiefly for its seed
PRODUCES at present more flax reed than any
other state IN the UniUn. aud this industry i.
steadily increasing Many. reasons could bs
general failure OF the wheat crop, due largely Id
the ravages Of chincl, bugs
During the last five years the fla Z industry has
terious disease Of the plants, and grave fears an
entertained for the future success u nax culture
Many farmers, knowing the great interest you
s sa N their weliafe applied to YOU for assist
Ing some method to overcome or lessen this
thr s evil AZ had some experience with
TINS disease III 1880. You obtained the co.
operation OF the regents Of the university. and
apposinted me early IN May to investigate It In
ths ssi rsai0n immedatey proceeded to
badly infested could be rented. aud where OBJ.
tninsd The Intelligent assistance of q resident
Several practical methods to investigate this
troube presented themselves. One, based Oh
the assumption that exhaustion Of the soil by
previous crops of flax was the cause Of failure,
led to tue first seres OF experiments; another,
that specific disease caused the death Of the
plants led to second serted. The results OF
both series OF experiments proved beyonu doubt
that nothing very practical can at present be
advised to prevent losses. But during these two
series OF experiments many facts were Observed
which. toaether with other observations made
la:s year, Indicated the real cause OF the flax
trouble aud iiecessitated third series OF expert.
nlents. which Is now partly finished. Still. 1t
will he necessary to continue these experiments.
not In the field but In the laboratory, where ali
the surrounding conditions can be observed or
kept under control. This will take some time.
however. US the conclusion Of each experiment
requires about three months.
The following report Is, therefore, only pre-
liininary one. and only the leading facts, as
learned ~ field experiments. will be given: To
carry out the first two series Of experiments Il
was necessary to commence us early us possible,
80 that the soil could be prepared Thoroughly
The land selected was admirably adapted for
ho MN ,<1l, 81
quality. and had been twice seeded to AJAX. In
1853 good crop was produced upon 1t, but iu
1889 every plant OF flax had been killed.
Mr.. l.uxgcr then gives full description
consisted officiating the land with icrtiliz.
ers and using seed grown upon tho farm, or
suspicious seed, and in separate plot seed
from distance, presumed to DO free from
disease. Tine following fertilizers were used:
Ten lbs. lime, 20 lbs lime; 20 lbs. acid phos-
pilates, 40 lbs acid phosplates; 10 lbs. mu-
rate phosphates, 2Olbs. muriate phosphates;
10 lbs. salt, ~ lbs. salt; 10 lbs. nitrate OF
soda, 20 lbs. nitrate OF soda; 10 lbs. super.
phosphate. 70 lbs. superp!losphate; 10 lbs.
land plaster, ~ lbs. land plaster; 10 lbs.
ground oil cake, 70 lbs. ground oil cake.
Both the native and foreign seed was treat
ed with each kind OF ferti izer, and in other
and the soil treated after the young plants
had appeared. In all the plots the seed
gcrmiinated, and be ore the plants had
grown to three inches they began to shrivcl.
Those in soil treated with ground oil cake
died first. These experiments, being ex.
ceedingly thorough were taken as conclu-
sive proof that exhaustion OF the soil had
nothing to do with the disease.
The second series of experiments con.
sisted OF the use OF fungicides upon plants
grown upon infected soil. The iungicidcs
are generally applied in liquid form, but
flax seed cannot be wet without sticking to-
gcthcr, and the soil had to be taken up.
mixed will. iungicide and applied as a top
dressing. Eight different kinds Of fungi.
cides were used. Out of sixteen seeded
plots all but four produced the plants in
pioiusiOn. with the same result as in the
first experiment. This result is taken to in
dictate that the disease Is not specific veg.
etable disease. Ono thing seems 10 be
proven. that the disease, or whatever ii may
of old fax to soil not yet invaded.
The third series of experiments IS fin
ished, SO far as it can he conducted in the
field. II tho disease can be produced, in
soil of a healthy nature, and with straw of
healthy flax, it will go far to show that it is
not a disease caused by parasitic organisms,
hut BY somef hing fnLs different Tho
with soil uniniectcd and healthy seed,
treated with solutions OF old fax straw and
with the dry straw. In the plots thus
treated the disease appeared with fatal et.
fects. In the plots kept tree, as far as pos
sible. from the contact with the old straw,
they grew to their full size. 1t appears
then that there is no cure but only pfeyeil-
tion, and that q rotation of crops, which
shall free the ground from the traces OF one
crop of fax before another is attempted, is
the most rational plan. The experiments
will be continued in the green house of the
experimental farm until . thorough study
of the subject is made.