The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1899-12-23
THE FLAX INDUSTRY
WE'LL REPRESENTED AT THE FAR
co CONVENTION.
Two Hundred Delegates, Represent
ing Seventeen Flax-PrOduc1nE
States, Impart and Receive WIS
dom ON the Subject of Flax and
It's PrOducts-Interesting and In
structive Papers Read by We'll
known AuthOritics-IHlax Straw
For Fodder.

EOr EO0uer.
The Importance of the flax industry
Of this country is clearly demonstrated
by the large and enthusiastic attend
ance ut the meeting of he National
Flax, Hemp and Ramie' association,
which convened at Fargo for a two
days session. There were at least 2OO
delegates in attendance, and every one
present had an individual interest III
| either the growth of flax or the manu-
facture of fiber. There was consider
| able regret expressed over the absence
Of President j. Sterling Morton Of Ne
braska, who had hoped to ';e.tnere and
preside. at the meeting. The
ton was called to order by the Sccrr-
tary. Mrs. Henriette c. Olbcrg OF Al
bert Lea, MINI.
Mayor johnson welcomed the dele
gates. He said:
THE interest which has been created
by flax among the citizens Of North
Dakota in the last few years has al
most overSl,adowed wheat. am in
formed that North Dakota has this
year produced nearly. If not quite. one
half of the entire crop Of the nitei
States. and that CasS county has pro-
ducel 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 Il 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 l'n!1en
Kingdom. or from any ether country"
After the address of welcome Mayor
johnson was chosen presiding: officer Of
the meeting. and Commissioner of .Ag-
ricultGr2 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 the
Agricultural college. discussed the sub
ject broadly. The discovery thai nlic-
lent Egyptian
Mummies Were Wrapped in Linen
clothes was cited by him as evidence
Of the early cultivation of flax and the
manufacture of the fiber. OF The cult
walton of the plant there has been left
little history. No publications except
those of a recent date were cXtant. and
the original producers of flax had car
ried their knowledge with them to the
grave. Scientific Investigation had
been very prescribed and somewhat
barren of results. The plant demands.
absolutely clean soil. Weeds retarded
growth, not only absorbing the moist
ure but shading the young plant. Much.
depended OH the time the plant was
sown. though its extreme susceptibility
TO damage from frost necessitnted more
care than the ordinary farm products.
Three pcckS per acre was given as
about the right quantity to SOW. The
yield was better OH new land on &C
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 be overcome
by proper cultivation. Diseases of the
plant were discussed. and the necessity
Of investigation for the eradication of
all destructive elements vas urged.
FLAX Fiber and Its Uses was the
subject of a paper by ]. I. Reynolds Of
Kansas City. read by the secretary.
The value Of the crop is now quoted at
over 500 100000 annually. He thought
it could be more than trebled by the
proper use of the flax straw. nov being
entirely thrown away. Aside from the
manufacture of linen. in which mill
ions of dollars We're being overlooked
each year. he thought there We're 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 colld be saved. He urged
concerted action and governmental in
vestigation for improving fiber ma
chimes.
A statistical report on the growth Of
flax in the different states and the in
creased acreage. especially i'll North
Dakota. was discussed by Fl. N. Thorn
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-
1ions for the plant as We're evidenced
in North Dakota and Northern Mime
sofa.
"FlaX-Breaking and Reducing Ma
chinery'' vas the subject of the adj
dress of Dr.. Hinebaugh Of Tower City.
He discussed the invention of J. I.
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
cllaf and crushing the straw as much
as the initial process of fiber mills. Be-
sides bailing the fiber for easy ship
ment. it 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 OH 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 n%eighbors did of
separate crops. His claim that the
mixed straw was more valuable for
feeding purposes than wheat straw ex-
cited considerable attention and ex-
periments along that line.>
second Days Session.
Seventeen 1ax-producing states were
represented in the convention of the
National Flax and Hemp association.
! which concluded a two-day session
here tonight. The programme for both
days was SO arranged as to interest
both the agriculturists, who sought in.
formation along the lines Of cultivation
In its varied forms, and those inter-