St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-06-19

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there is scarcely another plant which so
readily becomes acclimated under diff
ferent conditions and in so many cOun-
tries. Generally speaking, it will thrive
in the greatest variety of soils. 1t is
true, of course, that the better the land
the better the crop of fax. 1t thrives
best in good, deep, loamy soil; yet it
may be raised to advantage on any land
not too sandy or peaty,or of cold. stiff,
clay nature.
The Selection Of Seed.
To secure good result the very best
seed must be bought, no matter at what
cost. A knowledge OF the quality OF
seeds can be gained, it is true, only by
experiences; but the terminating power
can be proved by an easy and very
simple test. Let one hundred seeds be
planted in pot and the power TO
terminate can be readily demonstrated.
1t is believed that Dutch or Russian
seed, or-what is still better, it Is
tnought-a mixture of both. is the most
suitable of imported kinds. Yet,
granted successful crop in any coun-
try, it is believed that the seed best
adapted for cultivation is the seed of
that crop. The Irish Flax company
strongly advocates its own matured
seed, and recent tests have shown
maximum terminating power of 100 per
cent, which has never yet been reached
by any imported kinds. Besides, the
careful saving of home seed largely ill.,
creases the return to the farmer.
When Flax should BE Sown.
The field in which fax is to be sown
should, after having been freely ma
nured. be powed in autumn and al
lowed &c remain in furrOw all winter,
exposed to comminuting influences of
the frost. In spring it should be plowed,
not too deeply, across the burrows,
then narrowed and rolled till the soil
Is fine, flax requiring firm seed bed.
The best time for sowing is when all
danger from frost is past. Very fine
crops have resulted from sowing early
in May.
General Directions.
Not less than two and one-half bushels
of seed should be Sown per acre. and on
poor land this quantity may be increased
with advantage. The seed should be
scattered with all possible regularity,
and lightly narrowed and rolled. When
the plants are few inches high. the
crop should be carefully weeded. Chill
dren or women are usually employed in
Europe in this service, working OH
hands and knees. This should be- done
when the ground is damp, as it gives
the young plant a better chance to re-
cover itself. If the ground is kept very
clean, wedding may be unnecessary;
but it is usually beneficial.
Harvest Time.
When the straw begins to turn yell
low, the foliage to droop, and the seeds
to change TO pale-brOwn color, the
proper time to pull tile flax has arrived.
In pulling, the same lengths OF straw
should be kept as nearly as possible to-
gelher and tied in small sheaves five or
six inches in diameter. This facilitates
the after process The sheavrs should
then be set up in the field OH their root
ends TO winn0w, after which they are
ready for market. unless the grower
chooses to scatch and prepare the tax
for the Splnntrs' use.
Threshi ng and E3ippling.
Flax can be threShed, after being
well dried, much III the manner OF
grain: but much greater care Is neces-
Sary SO as not 10 break the straw and
thus injure the fiber. Sometimes it is
put through rollerSw hichwhen.p properly
adjusted, pull off the seed bollS. More
frequently. however, tie seed is removed
by process called ripping. which may
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are repeatedly pulled with a quick
motion through an upright iron comb
with round teeth about foot high and
al inch apart and with blunt. tapering
points. This comb should be firmly
fixed to frame, and on the opposite
side to the worker a large box should
be placed or IL sheet spread Oh the
ground 10 receive the seed vessels as
they fall. Tie bois. after being
thurouh.ly dried, eau be put through
the mill and cleaned.
Experience has shown that the eyie,d
of fiber Is increased and the seed I'M
proved by allowing both to remain in
the straw during the winter months
and the lippling delayed until the seed
is required for the next years sowing
and the retting until the warm weather
has set i'll.
The geet1ing Process.
The process of retting, or rotting off
the straw is by far the most delicate
and important process which the crop
undergoeS. Upon its proper nanipuia-
ton ut this stage depends, To conSid
cradle extent, the quality of the fiber Of
the flax Bat here is just where the
product shows the largest returns. The
retting profess amply repays all the
labor and care expended upon 1t.
For proper reitlng soft walter Is most
I suitable. Water containing large pro-
portion Of lime or iron is unsuitable.
| ANY water in which soap will not curdie
is soft enough for sleeping flax. Where
| slowly running water is conveniently
| near 1t may be used to advantage. Ret
ting is often performed in the rivers OF
| Belgium and Holland. where the flax Is
! steeped in crates or perforated boxes.
! When running water Is not attalnable.
| pits should be dug about forty feet long,
eight feet wide, and four feet deep. this
| being the s!z. capable of containing the
| average growth OF one acre. These pits
/ should be
Lined with Clay
| to render them water tight. The flax is
| then closely packed, root end down
| wards A row of Sleaves may be placed
| fiat Oh tile top. Boards should then be
| placed on top we'll weighted with stones,
! and the whole covered with water to the
! depth of a few inches above the boards
| A week or ten days is sufficient TO rot
| the straw; but, as the time varies with
! the temperature and nature OF the
| water, great care Is necessary.
| An easier, but longer, process is to
| spread the flax thinly on the grass until
the fiber parts readily fail from the
woody STEM This latter method PRE-
walls In Russia, where the flax industry
exceeds that OF any other country i'll the
! world.
In this district of Scotland it may be
stated that, from inquiries among the
! growers. 1t appears that three-fourtns of
the crop has been disposed of in its con-
! dltiom as cut on the field, unretted, and
at prices which gave better result than
any other crop on the farm.