The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-06-01
FLAX 80 nsnp Cslssss IN WasAsagsss
WAamrnnnou Ns@x Na~ q -fH.~eaal 4

11ox 50 Hemp Culture n WasAengtoo
WAsnIHsfoS CfrY. Nay &.-l6psciaLl-
Representative Wilson has secured the
following important amendment 10 the
agricultural sppropRiation bllis 40 en.
sble the SECRETARY Of agriculturs - fnrther
exparimsnt and coatiuus ne iuvsstiassion
Of oax and hemp culture for nbef purposes
IN the stats g Washingtcn, 500" In
support of the amsndmsnt Mr.. WILSON
said:,
II would IKE 70 cay fsv words urging
The dssirabiltty Of this very small appro-
peiasion. Heretofore IN sppropsiakion has
besn made for the iuvsstieation Of fbsr
culture In this country. Al the time that
this went into operation our territory had
not been admitted into the Union. The
amount OF &. 900, think, was expended
~ that time In the establishment Of ex-
periments In this line, mainly, believe.
In FLORIDA Afterward . very distin-
guishsd gsntleman Of my own stats. Dr..
Thornton. Of Tsrndals. Wash, made some
invoetigations and reported them 70 the
chisf Of the agricultural bureau. I have
In my hand the result Of his investigation,
which are excssdinsiy Interesting and i'm.
postank"
The lsttsr and report Of d. Thornton
were submitted The letter urges that the
Pacific Northwest h especially adapted for
the raising Of dax which, when proven,
will b Of very great and lasting benefit 10
Westsrn Warrington and Oregon.
Dr.. Thornton further states in his letter
that the Puget sound grown seed sur
passes that grown In any other part of the
world, both In yield and quality. In
Europe. with the same heavy seeding Of
one and one-half or two bushels Per acre.
the yield Of sesd averages from two 20 ave
bushels per acre, while on Puget sound il
ran from nine TO seventeen bushels. He
also states that it 10 not TO the seed yield
Of fiax that the Puget sound grower need
continue his efforts, the value OF the
fiber 20 far ovsrshadowing Il that IL need
only be considered side issue, or waste
product, although of great value itself.
Length Of straw II an important element
and Puget sound straw is both longer and
stronger than the European. The value
Of the crop on Puget sound II from 500 to
$50 IN acre.
DIR. Thornton's letter. which Vas read
in full in the house. pointed out the evil
dent fact that the FAX industry, II once e.
ta6lished on Puget sound. would be en-
tireiy above the influence Of tariff TIM
ing" or foreign competition, for the reason
that the yield of tine fiber. such ~ can be
grown on Puget sound, 10 far below the
requirements Of the European consumers.
Not enough 10 produced TO supply their
own demand, let alone exporting TO this
country 1t low prices. So urgent 10 this
demand that DIR. Thornton's investiea-
lions have already attracted considerable
attention in Europe. and inquiries have
been made at the department. of agricul-
tnre here with respect to the possibility Of
Puget sound being able TO supply the re-
quirements Of the fiber trade in England.
Ireland and the European continent
The house listened atsensively to the ar
guments advanced, and at the conclusion
the amendment Vas adopted without op-
position.