The Saint Paul globe., 1898-06-23
POINTS REGARDING FLAX
ITS GROWTH AND USES IN
THE NORTHWEST

The NORTHWEST
The Twin Cities n Consuming Center
Popularity of Oil Cake In the
Fatteniag of Live Stock an Incen-
tive to Larger cultivation
The Country Has Only Recently
Exported the Product.
The faxseed crop is one of interest to Mn
nesOta where considerable quantities are an
nually grown and gathered. lndeed, the
Twin Cities are large consumers of this pro-
duct. approximately 100000 bu being an
nuaLy distributed between and absorbed by
Minneapolis and St. Paul alone Chicago is
occasionally and indeed the chief, receiving
Point and much of the seed S crushed there,
the consumption of the raw material at that
point aggregating from 100000 to 40O0,O6
bu. Some experts have recently figured that
the requirements of faxseed by this country
under normal conditions ought to be about
100000 bu per annum.
1t has only been within quite recent years
that the United States has been possessed of
n surplus of Aaxseed for export. So late as
1857 the official declaration by the depart
meut OF agriculture was to the effect that the
home product was never equal to home cen
sumption and that, of necessity, considerable
amounts were imported every year. Down to
and including 1891 we imported from one to
two million bu per annum. That year, how
ever. was one of extraordinary production of
this commodity; and between 1891 and 1898
our exports amounted TO 100000 bu, while
imports only reached 2S5 900 bu. The crop of
1874 resulted in creating a deficiency and we
have been obliged to draw upon foreign
countries from time to time to supply our
needs. Or thS limited crop of 1897 only
about 257,Cn bu had been exported during
the seven months ending jan 81 1S9S
There is a continually growing demand for
oil cake 1t has recently been quote! at
$l9.50dS20 per ton. While meal sells at from
$40 to S2O5O per ton, the statement was lately
made by the Times Herald, of Chicago, that
an attempt was being made by the National
Linseed Oil company to corner fiaxseed AT
that time the visible supply in Chi
cago was only $1,000 bu while
at Minneapolis and Duluth and some
other less important points the stock
was represented to be below 100000
The attempt, however. has not materialized
and No. l faxseed is now quoted in Chicago
at sl.10l4 The price of this product is one
OF the most fiuctuatng in the line of cereals
Between 1889 and January / 1885, the quota
tions ranged all the way from sc to $1.63 per
bu.
The seeding season for fax is about over
and it Is believed that Minnesota and the
Dakotas have a larger acreage the present
year than for several years In the past The
increase in favor OF oil cake and faxse-d
meal in connection with the fattening of live
stock has proved an incentive to its larger
growth. AS many farmers are doubtless
dealing with the product for the first time
the following points in regard to it's cultiva-
ton, presented by the Orange Judd Farmer
ought to be valuable in the way of instruc-
tion:
A very common mistake is sowing flax on
the same land for two more years in sue
cession. 1t should not be grown on the same
Held oftener than once in five or six Years
Most any soil that will produce good crop
OF corn will grow fax. A rich heavy loan
Will give the best results. Flax can also
be sown on bottom lands too wet for any other
kind &C grain.
This crop has a comparatively short grow
ing season, and it is weak feeder to begin
with so ii is necessary that the soil should be
in high state of fertility and in condition to
~ IurnlSh the necessary plant 1000 during the
first Fifty to sixty days. Manure should not
he applied directly to the fax crop, especially
raw bulky stable manure, because the plant
cannot take its food in such crude form. 1t is
always best to have the manure appliea to
some previous crop.
Cut as soon as the heads become ripe. a.d
the straw has commenced to turn yellow. 1t
must remain longer in the swath in ardar to
become perfectly dry, if cut early. Flax
should not under circumstances be put
into stacf. or threshed until it is thoroughly
dry, as the least. dampness will make the
seed sticky and prevent c:ean threshing.
sor cutting, a self-binder with fax car
rier attached can be used. 1t can also be cut
with a mower and raked together with
horse rake, but this is an Objectionable
method, as large amount of seed will shat
ter. II a self-rake reaper can be obtained, it
Will give best results. The yield of faxseed
runs from to 20 bH to the acre, according to
the season.
GOOD OUTLOOK FOR CRANBERRY CROP
Such sections of the country as make
specially of cranberry culture were favored
with good weather conditions the past winter,
the pant came through the trying season sat
isfactorily, and the lst of June as a rule finds
bogs looking well. This is true in the cram
berry sections of Wisconsin which q few
years ago yielded such important quantities.
followed by partial destruction of bogs, and
more recent recuperation. Across the lake In
Michigan the small area where cranberry
growing is accorded increased attention gives
promise or liberal yield so far as can be
determined al this early date There will
De some increase in the acreage of cranber-
RES brought into bearing, although the West
furnishes only small portion of the entire
ereo.
The important cranberry sections of New
Jersey 2nd Massachusetts are in generally
promising shape. Vines came through the
winter all right, and while it is too cary to
preulct crop probabilities the outlook at pres
ent is encouraging. New Jersey will probably
snow a small increase in bogs comirS into
bearing this year. and SO in portions OF Mas
sachusetts. although as a whole the area
seems substantially the same as last year A
considerable number of new bogs have been
planted IN New Jersey this spring. and that
state and Cape Cod will continue to supply
the major part OF the crop.-Orange Judd
Farmer.
PINEAPPLES
Florida paper says that this crop, though
not up to the average is better than had
been expected. The crop is now estimated to
be from 10000 to 100000 crates. The quality
rs good, and the prices enough higher
TO make for the deficiencv In