Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-12-21
to produce the straw necessary for

tions of the amount of seed, fall plow-
ing, spring blowing, deep blowing, time
of seeding and damage by insects and
kindred subjects We're thoroughly de-
veloped. For the manufacturers, new
machinery for the harvest of the plant,
to secure the best part of the stalk
nearest the ground, the different meth
DDS Of separating the fiber from the
woody portion Of the plant, and the
varied machinery for that purpose,
with the more advanced stages of man
ufacture in all grades up to linen, con-
tlibuted to an interesting session. All
interests seemed to be unified as the
result of the meeting and the delegates
encouraged to greater efforts. A brill
liant future seems assured for the in
dustry, and the sentiment seemed pre-
dominant that tliis portion of the
Northwest was the ideal country for
producing the plant to it's highest de-
gree of perfection.
The New officers.
At the conclusion of the work the fol
lowing officers were elected for the
ensuing year:
President, H. L. Thomas, Bismarck,
n. D.; first vice president, J. A. John
son. Fargo; secretary and treasurer.
Mrs. Herrierte c. Cldberg, Albert Lea,
Mimi; executive committee. ID. M.
Stewart, st. Paul.: Prof Sheppard.
Fargo; James Atkinson. Amcs, Iowa:
y. c. Chilcott. Bookings. S. d.; ]. X.
Brady. Dodge Center. Mimi; Mrs.
edith Wetherlead, Portland, Or
Vice presidents We're selected from
nj 1n tot
scented. Prof. Hays, of the Minnesota
experimental station. was added to the
committee On resolutions, which was
authorized to report direct to congress
and urge the necessity of action along
the lines of further scientific expert
ments in the cultivation and for new
machinery for fiber manufacture. The
executive committee decided that the
next annual meeting should be held
next December, but no selection Of the
place will be made for some months
The fiber mills. linseed Oil mills and
retineries We're inspected in the fore
noon and this afternoon was devoted
to the discussion of an instructive pro
.ranme. The work was started with
q discussion on flax growing by eX-
State Senator Smith of Casselton.
a Woman's Good Work.
Mrs. Oldberg, the secretary, told of
her interests in the business from her
father being connected with the man
ufacture of fiber She was in charge
or the flax exhibit at the Chicago
worlds fair and Omaha exposition.
Her account of the retting process of
separating the fiber from the stalk was
one of the most interesting features of
the days work. The principles of the
process were described and samples
shown illustrating the work. Opposed
to the general idea, the fiber was out.
side, not inside. the woody stock. Dew
retting required two weeks. Wate
retting was best with soft water
There should be no mineral substances
Stagnant water was bad on accounr Of
odor and injury to the fiber. Pool ret
ting was described and retting il
streams was not good plan. Th,
looping system OF tank retting was the
most preferable. All methods of ret
ting by chemicals were injurious.
II. R. c. Crowell, general manager OF
the United States Flax Fiber company
spoke highly of the atlaptability Of
this country for flax raising He ex.
aibited samples of retting, described s.
number of the processes, and told OF
the success he had in securing fiber
from the great plant by the rubber
roller process and praised the steam
process. The DIR. Hickman system o
converting fiber into paper pulp was
explained by Manager Atkinson. of
the French-Hickman Fiber company
here. Breaking and scutchng ma.
chinery was the subject presented by
Prof. Hoverstad Of Crookston.
Decided Hill
was made by Prof. Hays. Of the Min
nescta experiment station in his al,
dress on flax breeding. His thorough
knowledge of the subject was evident
and he treated the matter from the
historical and scientific standpoint.
American methods of cultivation and
were pronounced superior
to those of any other country Wheat
crops following fax were usually a
success, better profits resulting from
the mixed sowing of flax and wheat
than from either alone, and the best
and straightest fiber was secured from
fields where flax grew thickest Thin
stands allowed too much branching,
NAAANAA bAcAC UP lllC ilOcI. St1illluS itIlN
damaged its commercial value.
"Insects That Damage Flax" was the
subject of the address of Prof. Wal
dron. of the North Dakota experiment
farm. and he was of the opinion that
little danger attended the crop from
that source except from grass;loppers
and crickets. with occasional damage
from cutworms. ]. X. Brady of Dodge
Center Mimi, assailed the methods of
continuous flax production on the same
land and thought ignorant systems of
farming had done much to discourage
the industry, besides injuring the crop
and the land. He advised conserva-
tism in the production of the crop and
condemned what he considered the
tendency Of North Dakota and Mime
sofa farmers to rush into the cultiva-
ton at too great an extent
H. r. Wood and A. NJ. Halstead have
returned from hunt at AIedora. Mr..
Halstead pretty badly used up from
the result Of a serious accident. While
riding in the BAD Lands, his horse fell,
throwing him heavily to the ground.
nearly ending his existence. When
Mr. Wood !, l,,>