The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-08
HOW FLAXWILLGROW
Duwamish Land Would Pro-
duce 500 to the Acre.
FARMERS WAITING FOR A MILL
Estimates Based on the Opinion of
John NJ. Barbour Yield Here
Heavier Than In Ireland.

The prospects for Puget sound flax are
indicated in a letter received few days
ago by John Huntoon, of this city, from
John NJ. Barbour, one of the large fax
spinners at Lisburn, Ireland. who was in
Seattle short time ago with his brother.
Flax was grown by J. Mccain. an ex-
perienced flax grower on the Jorgeson and
Graham ranches on the Duwamish river,
eight miles south of Seattle. and Mr.. Bar
hour was asked by mail about the quality.
value and chances of shipping the product,
OF which samples were sent him. Mr.. Bar
bour's letter, which was written at Port
land. says:
The sample OF fax is better than what
/ saw at the Chamber OF Commerce IN Sc
attic a few days age and the form in
which il IS known is hacked fax or dress
line The condition in which fax is sold
is in the scutched state, as from every
hundred tons of straw there Is only yield
81 some 1919 TO Is per cent. of fibre: so you
VIII see that il would he too expensive to
pay freight on the fax straw.
Il should say the flax similar 10 the
sample sent would in the scutched state
he worth about II cents a pound, though
II has the appearance Of having been hard
~ retted enough.
LAS to the hest means of disposing OF
fax. IL seems to me that you must always
bear In mind that you must look to Belfast
or tho spinning CenteTs on the continent or
Europe for your market for this product.
as the fax in the United States Is trihi1g
as compared 10 that required by the aooFe
mentioned market Moreover the United
States consumption is limited 10 a very
few grades OF fax. whereas, the other
markets can take all grades. As the quail
ity OF fax varies so much, fax buyers pre-
fer to look through each parcel OF max De
fore buying but il seems to me That the
best way for you Is to ship the fax TO
some commission house in the East or IN
Belfast. who would find a purchaser for
you. The Barbour Flax Spinning Com
pany. Paterson. y J.. VIII ne happy 10
give you the names of fax dealers in the
East. or William Barbour n sons. LIS
burn. Ireland. will be happy 10 AFFORD you
any information as 70 the British or Euro
pean market. II - out OF the question 70
ship II either in the unretted or IN the
scutcaed state.
we are sending to the Seattle Chamber
Of Commerce samples both OF Irish and Of
French fax. 10 illustrate quality. etc.
which We hope viii De of service 10 those
interested in fax in your ne!ghborhood.
Al the prices given hy Mr.. Barbour, who
is now at san Francisco on his way East
Mr.. Mccain estimates that fax on the
puwamssh viii pay 500 an acre on any
good cleared bottom land. The soil viii
produce from three 10 four tons Of straw
per acre. as against only one ton in Ire
land. where fax has also been grown BY
Mr.. Mccain Mr.. Mccain. as we'll as
other farmers, VIII engage in fax culture, II
the proposition for a min here recently
submitted 70 the Chamber Of Commerce
bv Dr. a ", Thornton, SPECIAL agent OF
the United States department OF agrt-
culture Is carried out
At tAs Chamber Of Commerce now are
samples OF fax in every stage Up 10
hacked.