Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-12-21
THE FLAX INDUSTRY
WELL REPRESENTED AT THE FAR
GO CONVENTION.
Two Hundred Delegates, Represent
States, Impart and Receive Wis
dom on the Subject of Flax and
It's Protlucts-Interesti and In
structive Papers Read by Well
known AuthOritics.-Flax Straw
For Fodder.

For Fodder.
The Importance Of the flax Industry
of this country is clearly demonstrated
by the large and enthusiastic attcnd-
ance ut the meeting of the National
Flax. Hemp and Ramic association,
which convened at Fargo for two
days session. There We're at least 200
delegates in attendance. and every one
present had an individual interest in
either the growth of flax or the manu-
facture of fiber. There was consider
able regret expressed over the absence
of President ]. Sterling Morton of Ne
braska, who had hoped to lie there and
preside at the meeting. The conven-
ton was called to order by the sccrr-
tary. Mrs. HenTiettc c. Olberg of Al
bert Lea, Mimi.
Mayor Johnson welcomed the dele
gates. He said:
THE interest which has been created
by flax among the citizens of North
Dakota il the last few years has al
most overshadowed wheat. | am i'll
formed that North Dakota has this
year produced nearly. if not quite. one
half of the entire crop of the United
States. and that C'ass county has pro-
duced nearly one-tenth of the entire
flax crop of this great nation. You
have acted wisely in holding your
meeting here. We are proud of our
town as whole. and we want YOU to
see it. There is no reason under the
sun why this country should import
linen goods or thread from the United
Kingdom. or from any ether country"
After the address Of welcome Mayor
johnson was chosen presiding officer OF
the meeting, and Commissioner of Ag-
ricultGre Thomas was chosen assistant
chairman.
The usual committees We're appoint
ed and adjournment taken until the
afternoon.
Growing Flax for Seed" was the
first paper read. Prof. Sheppard. of TIL.
Agricultural college. discussed the sub
ject broadly. The discovery that anc
lent Egyptian
Mummies Were Wrapped in Linen
clothes was cited by him as evidence
of the early cultivation of flax and the
of the fiber. OF the Guilt
walton of the plant there has been left
little history. No publications except
those Of a recent date We're eXtant. and
the original producers of flax had car
ried their knowledge with them to the
grave. Scientific investigation Ind
been very prescribed and somewhat
barren of results. The plant demands.
clean soil. Weeds retarded
growth, not only absorbing the moist
1re but shading the young plant. Much
depended on the time the plant was
soWn. though its extreme susceptibility
20 damage from frost necessitated more
care than the ordinary farm products.
Three pecks per acre was given as
about the right quantity to SOW. The
yield was better on new land Oh ac.
count Of the extreme fertility of the
soil and freedom from weeds. The re-
ported damage to land from the cult
walton of flax could easily he overcome
by proper cultivation Diseases of the
plant were discussed. and the necessity
Of investigation for the eradication of
all destructive elements was urged.
"FlaX Fiber and Its Uses" was the
subject of a paper by J. l. Reynolds of
Kansas City, read by the secretary.
The value of the crop is now quotel at
over O000.OW annually He thought
1T could be more than trebled by the
proper use of the flax straw. now being
entlrely thrown away. Aside from the
of linen. in which mill
IONS OF dollars were being overlooked
each year, he thought there were MANY
minor products, such as bags. rope. pa
per and binding Irvine which would be
OF untold value if the proper machin-
cry could be had. With other machin-
cry for pulling up the flax by the roots
and saving the most valuable part for
fiber much could be saved. He urged
concerted action and governmental in
vestigation for improving fiber ma
chimes.
A statistical report on the growth of
max in the different states aud the in
creased acreage. especially in North
Dakota. was discussed by II. N. Thom-
as, commissioner of agriculture for
North Dakota. The acreage in North
Dakota, he claims, is nearly 10000
acres. and this years crop was practi-
caly double that of last year. He was
enthusiastic over the natural condi-
tons for the plant as were evidenced
in North Dakota and Northern Mime
sofa.
"FlaX-Breaking and Reducing Ma
chinery' was the subject of the adj
dress of Dr.. Hinebaugh Of Tower City.
He discussed the invention of J. /,
Smith of Heron Lake, MINI. This is
portable and can be moved from one
straw stack to another and reduces the
fiber by separating all the seed and
chaff and crushing the straw as much
as the initial process Of fiber mills. Be-
sides bailng the fiber for easy ship
ment, 1t is claimed that seed enough
could be cleaned to pay for the operat-
ing. The inventor was present. and
convinced the delegates of the value of
his invention.
Hon. Thomas Harrison of Blanchard
spoke on the growth of fax and the
adaptibility of low land for that pur
pose. BY growing the two crops to-
gether he had secured about as good
yields Of each as his neighbors did of
crops. His claim that the
mixed straw was more valuable for
feeding purposes than wheat straw ex-
cited considerable attention and ex-
perlments along that line.
Second Days Session.
Seventeen fax-producing states were
represented in the convention of the