The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1895-02-07
ABOUT FLAXCULTURE
A LETTER FROM MRS. GOVERNOR
LORD.
She Talks About Flax, Linen, Pepper
mint and Several Other
Industries.

nv good fortune to visit friends in the
Eastern cities. To the casual observer
the East seems more prosperous than
the Pacific coast at the present time.
One thing was very marked-the low
price of all farm products.
''Ihis is a great boon to the city
people, but what is to become OF the
farmer in the meantime!' l said to
my hostess, who was rejoicing over the
prevalence of low prices and what it
meant for the poor: '"Their profits are
greatly cut into by the ling hauls.
Our farmers cannot go on in this way.
You have visited Oregon, and you
have expressed yourself enthusiasticai-
ly as to it's soil and climate, and possi-
bilities of future greatness. Now give
us some suggestions"
'"The crop for you is flax she said
in reply, land I shall be glad to in
troduce you by mail to Mrs. Olburg,
Of Minnesota, who was lady manager
at the Worlds fair from that state,
and judge of linens. Her father was
a linen manufacturer in Norway"
Since my return to Oregon 1 have
received some Information from Mrs.
Olburg, who is greatly interested in
fostering the flax industry in Amer
| lea Sne writes me Ine
of linen has been experimental with
in the penitentiary at Saltwater, and
| is no longer a matter of doubt. 1t
pays, and places twines at less cost to
farmers also It is to be hoped that
some member of the legislature will
| thoroughly investigate this subject
| and see if it will not be a starting
point for new and valuable industry.
Mrs. Olburg has been in Oregon, and
| admits that we have the ideal climate
for the growth of superior to that
| of her own state. From manufactur-
| ing first the coarser articles we might
| be able to locate mills and make linen
| manufacture one of the leading indus
| tries of the state. Half the linens ex-
ported from Great Britain and Ireland
are taken in the United States, and
amount to $3O,OOO,0OO annually. / I'M
| derstand that in Ireland much of the
weaving Of linen for art purposes is
done in hand looms in the houses of
| the peasantry. Space is too limited in
| this valuable paper to discuss this
question as fully as it's great interest
demands, but hope some of our pub
lic-spirited Journals will open their
columns for remarks and suggestions.
1 said to my hostess: "What is this
new fad Of Offering peppermint creams
at dessert? 1 see it at all the leading
hotels, and they are in evidence at
| every well-regulated at-home dinner.
| They seem to have supplemented salt
| ed almonds"
| 'They are considered an aid to diges-
ton and, by the way, why don't you
suggest peppermint for a crop? Won t
it grow with you?'
i + -,
wayside.''
| BETTER turn your attention ito it,
then, for it has more than doubled in
value. Last summer, when 1 was in
| the Adirondacks, I heard some inter-
esting items about peppermint 1t
seems that many years ago, before the
day of railroads, peddler of essences
was making the rounds with his COM
! n1odities in Wayne county, New York
He noticed the rank growth of pepper
| mint, and, having some knowledge of
d1Stilling, he asked the farmers con-
sent to cultivate it, which was given.
As he made more than he found a mar
ket for, he sent a sample to the firm
that furnished his supplies and asked
them to buy his surplus. They replied
they were very particular about the
quality of their peppermint, and would
only purchase from the established
firm in Holland. Our enterprising
Yankee sent his sample to the Holland
firm, and in due time had the pleasure
Of receiving an order for all he could
make, as it was superior to their own
article. From that day to the present
time this has been one of the leading
crops of the Wayne county farmers.
They cultivate it in rows and are ex-
trenely careful ito keep it free from
weeds, as they injure it's favor. They
distill it in their own homes
This lady then brought me out a
small vial, for which she said she paid
75c, purchased from the country drug
sfSt, who had it directly from the
Quaker family who had for two gen
erations been famous for the superior
quality of their products
One great advantage Of such crop
is in it's small bulk-which means
small freight.
Our agricultural college could ex-
pertinent with peppermint and give the
farmers much particularly in di- |
rections for distilling.