The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-11-13
PRACTICAL SIDE
OF FLAX GROWING
Interesting Pacts for the Farmers and
Merchants Of ClatSOp.
WILL GROW IN EVERY SOIL
Oregon Certainly Meets All Require
ments. but Great Care Neces-
nnry for Success.
WILL GROW IN EVERY SOIL

The oldest Of all books-thc Bible
refers In numerous instances 10 fax
cultivation and 20 the spinning and
weaving OF linen. and other ancient
writings. and the still more remote
testimony Of ancient Egypt, In the
monuments and tombs show, not only
the degree OF perfection the cultivation
Of the nbrc had attained but the skill
with which Il was worked up In the
manufacture Of fine linen for the cloth
Ing Of priests and kings But, to con
fine the subject 10 what Immediately
relates to the present time. further ref
ercnoe to ancient history must be omit
ted
The proposition TO establish In this
county the growing and spinning OF fax
has led TO some investigation upon the
subject. the result Of which can not
fail TO be OF interest TO every farmer
and business man in the community.
The great Stewart factories Of Llsburn,
Ireland. have sent some FAX seed 20
Messrs. FoArd 4 Stokes OF this city.
for the purpose OF having II planted in
this and other counties In oregon, with
view 20 aseertaing whether Oregon
caiT grow naS. Should the experiment
prove successful. Mr. Porter. the man
agcr OF the Stewards institution, writes
that they viii put branch establish
ment IN Astoria
The following most interesting facts
have been reprinted from the Irish
Textile Journal:
SUITABILITY OF SOIL
There is probably no plant which
grows and thrives 30 well under 50
many varying conditions and In so
many countries ms flax, The temperate
zone is best suited TO It's growth as a
Hbre producer. but II may be almost
regarded rs indigenous from the
equator TO the card degree OF latitude
In the northern hemisphere
Speaking generally. iax viii grow in
great variety OF soils, but II the most
suitable Is pointed out and word OF
warning given as 10 what should be
avoided. and the grower realizes that
the general principle. the better the
land the better the crop" is specially
applicable here Il viii be sufficiently
broad guide 10 anyone OF average in
telligence. Loamy soil, II deep and dry.
is most excellent. and heavy land. when
properly prepared. will give rich crops
of fax: but stiff clay subsoil Is un-
suitable and peaty, or sandy soil, with
poor bottom, win produce a very poor
yield. Roots so deep down into the
ground. and subsoIllng and draining
must also be attended to, as both are
essential to a good result. Water rest
ing either on the ground or under It,
particularly II stagnant is fatal to a
good crop An old writer on the sub
ject says; wet, spewey lands, or hot,
scorchlng ground. will never yield a
good crop OF flax; hut loamy or clayey
ground-the latter needing more prep
aration-will yield suitable one"
ROTATION
Flax growing cannot be taken up at
random, II required careful fore
thought, though not greater, perhaps,
than should be bestowed upon the Sc
lection OF ground for any particular
crop, and flax is In this respect almost
as accommodating as any other crop
Il will succeed so many different kinds;
According to the best authorities, II will
follow potatoes. wheat. oats, rape, car
rots and rye, In one instance abroad,
II is noted as being put In after tur-
nips Qn very strong soiD which as n
general rule. is very Objectionable in
this country the most favorable posi-
tlons being after potatoes, wheat or
oats, But the practical farmer looks
beyond one or two years crops, and has
others to think of as well as flax, and
systematic attempts are made to util-
lze all the Misunderstanding constituents
OF the soil by putting in such crops in
succession as viii consume the one af-
ter the other, all the different plant
food elements confined in the earth; in
other words, what one plant leaves in
the soil this year is taken up by a plant
OF a different order next year, and the
application OF this principle in connec-
tion with the skllful manuring, plays a
very important part in judicious farm
ing.
We have not extended the rotation in
vestigatlon to show how soon flax
could be repeated in the same ground,
and the intervening years most profit
ably occupied. We have simply exhib-
ited a few of the crops which generally
precede flax. Seven to ten years is the
shortest time that should elapse be-
tween two crops of flax in the same
field; and a safe rule is, the longer the
interval, the better the chance for the
second crop.
PREPARATION OF SOIL.
The preparation Of the soil must be
very carefully attended to, and the
greatest trouble taken in this respect
,,iIt no ar,ni,y 'ranaid Waeds allowed