The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-06-09
FARM. FIELD AND GARDEN.
VALUABLE POINTS OF INFoR-
NATION FOR FARMERS.
FLAX Statistlcs--Dispos Of Sur
Plus FoWls-. CultlVatinR Sweet
Potatoes--Profits Of Tim
Der PlanttnR--Some
Hints,
Flax Statistics.

bulletin on flax production in this
country, prepared by Mr.. Hyde, the
special agent. It shows the total area
OF land devoted to the cultivation of
flax in the United States in 1889 to
have been 1,31S,698 acres, the pro-
.duction OF flax seed 10, $780, 1O bush
els, the production OF fiber 241,389
pounds, the amount of flax straw
sold or so utilized as to have, a deter
minable value, 2O7,757 tons, and tho
total value OF the fax products $1O,-
436, 229. Although flax seed is re-
ported from 81 states, Minnesota,
South Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska
produced 5000 per cent OF the total
amount, OF 1, O35,615 bushels in ex-
cess of the entire production of the
United States at the census OF 1880.
Flax is. now cultivated. almost ex-
clusively for seed, and in the old fiber
producing states it's cultivation is AL
most entirely abandoned. South d.
kOta had the largest acreage in 1889
and Minnesota the largest production
OF seed. OF the states containing 1000
acres or upwards in fax, Wisconsin
had the highest average yield of flax
seed per acre, 11.42 bushels. and the
highest average value per acre of all
flax products, $3.50. The aver age
yield for the entire country was TIT
bushels per acre. Throughout the
greater portion of the principal flax
producing region flax straw is of little
or no value, and much of the so.called
fibre is only an inferior quality oftow,
used chiefly for upolstering purposes.
There are indications, however, of the
revival in the United States of linen
industry that will afford a market for
fine flax fibre of domestic production
and revive a branch OF agriculture
that has been for many years almost
extinct. No previous census report
contained any statistics of the acreage
In flax OF the value OF fax products.
Dlsposing of Surplus Fowls,
If extra stock is sold it should be
done in May or June, or deferred to
January. In May the best chicks
can be retained for next year and the
surplus sold at time when the prices
are well up. This applies also to
fowls. as prices are so low in the sum-
mer and fall as to make it a. matter
of doubt whether they are sold or
given away, if cost OF transportation,
commissions, ETC., are deducted. The
expense Of retaining the surplus until
late in the season more than balances
the eggs received, if a large number of
chicks have been Matched The best
prices are obtained for chicks, and the
largest profits derived when the chicks
are forced into marketin short time
Every day they are kept after May
only adds to the cost, while prices are
constantly on the decline until JAN
uary. It is no gain at all to have the
prices go down as the weights 60 up,
but it is loss Of time, however. The
hens and pullets that are selected to
be kept over for another year will
thrive better and give larger pro-
portionate profit than when the sur
plus stock is retained and the fowls
and chicks crowded. From this time
to January those selling fowls will be
fortunate If they secure the cost OF
the food, but after Christmas prices
usually advance, and the market is
then never fully supplied. If the flock
is still crowded use the surplus on the
table for the family.
Feeding Pigs.
To have good, strong pigs, says
writer in Farm and Home, the SOW
should be in good flesh, but not over
fat when the pigs are narrowed. After