Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1901-12-30
ROTATION SAVES FLAX

OPINION OF AN EMINENT AU-
THORITY ON THE NEEDS OF
SOIL FOR FLAX.
Prof Thomas Shaw, of the state ag-
ricultural school, an authority on mat
ters of farming, asserts that the danger
Of the gradual extinction Of the North
west fax crop may be overcome. Sys-
tematic farming and rotation of crops,
he believes, will maintain the present
golden revenues from the grain, and
keep the soil upon which fax is grown
in productive condition.
The danger threatening fax produc-
ers, Prof. Shaw maintains, is equally
grave to the producers of every other
kind of grain. He admits the argu-
ment that fax possesses qualities that
operate against second crops on the
same soil, but states that the entire
agricultural area of the Northwest is
being gradually exhausted. The soil,
he says, must be renewed Or grain
raising abandoned
Our fax crops may be managed so
that the yield will never grow less
says Prof. Shaw. AS an instance,
cite Ireland, where the crop has been
important for century. The present
danger is in injudicious farming. and
the attempt to grow fax crops in sue
cession. The same danger applies to
wheat also. The only solution is ro-
tation of CROPS
Il seriously question whether man
in the Northwest can tell how many
years should elapse between fax crops.
My own Judgment is that the interval
should vary with the fertility and con-
dition of the soil.
From all the knowledge I am able
to obtain, think second fax crops NAV
be secured from ordinary prairie land
in five years. The period might be
shortened or heightened as soil condi-
tons demand. This estimate is based
on personal observation and results OBJ
tanned elsewhere. l have never been
able to test it myself
Rotation of crops with fax shoc
include grass for one or two years.
When the sod is buried a favorable
condition results from decaying hum
us and the cleansing of the SOIL Flax
Should be the first crop after hay or
pasture. There is no doubt upon this
point
MY own theory is that the new
grass, bromus inermis. will make an
excellent crop to precede fax. 1t fills
the surface ground with roots. There
is a strong probability that it will be-
come valuable adjunct.
Il do not know of any section of the
United States which can grow more
crops of flax than the Northwest, when
the crops are planted at pro ),- iuter-
vals. But with this favorable condi-
ton, the methods of cultivation at
present are in many instances deplor-
able. Too little attention is paid to
proper pulveriZation of surface soil and
land from weeds.
Flax at present is often grown in
rotation with wheat. This is bad ,,rac-
tice. since both are very hare on the
soil. This is probably one explanation
OF the danger of extinction of the fax
crop and of why fax has failed in some
states.
Il should suggest that, after a flax
crop. oats or barley should be planted.
The third year wheat with grass seed
mixed should be sown. The fourth
and fifth years the land should he
given over to hay or pasture. To
make six-year rotation would sug-
gest tlax, then oats or barley. corn
wheat with grass seed and hay or pas,. i
ture for two years. E%
Alfalfa is the coming grass cron5
and will probably prove valuable in
connection with fax. hope to prove Il
that it can be grown over large areas
OF the Northwest where clover does nof
prosper, cannot say thai. II viii
prove successful everywhere, but
that it can be cultivated in MANY local
ltles tues is unauestioned It lis a very
valuable val l forage crop. for it fiIls ihe
ground with roots, which extend deem
into the soil, giving it endurance,
The Episcopal mission, rFs,rs1, "a ~