Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1902-03-20
ABOUT FLAX.
Tax Wilt oreFlax Sick soii and Other
Troubles which Inlurc the Crop.

be sent free to all persons who apply
for it. The new soil and seed disease
known as flax wilt pr SCENTS many fea-
lures of interest and has been studied
from several points of view. Details
of the principal experiments are re-
corded in the bulletin and the cause
of the disease is described and illus
trated. The bulletin also discusses
number of questions concerning best
methods of fax growing, and makes
suggestions which we believe will
prove of benefit to every flax pro-
ducer who may have patience suffi-
Gent to put the ideas into practice.
The following are some of the chief
points made in the bulletin.
1. There is diseased condition of flax
soils which has long been known to
farmers in flax producing regions as flax
sick SOIL
2. If flax Is sowed rather continuously
for a number of years upon the same soil
this disease tends to thoroughly infect
the soil so that flax growing becomes no
longer profitable.
3. The disease may be spread by way
of seed fax.
as If attacked by wilt: hence l have
called the disease the flax wilt disease.
s. The direct cause is a minute fungus
parasite which grows on the inside of the
flax plant. starting either from the seed,
or by attacking the roots of older plants
If the soil has previously been infested.
6. There are many ways in which the
infection might reach new fields, but the
chief one is by way of the seed.
Z. The seed (spores) of the parasite
get into the seed flax at threshing time,
rafting off from the sides of the flax
straws which have been attacked by the
parasite.
8. When such infected flax seed Is
sown, the spores of the fungus germin-
Those attacked early die at once and
there may be no stand even from good
seed if the spores of the parasite are
abundant. When once In the ground the
fungus spreads rapidly, attacking new
plants throughout the season. 1t can
live from year to year upon the humus
of the soil. hence the soil is soon ruined
for flax. Six years of continuous seeding
of flax upon the same plot at the Agri-
cultural college thoroughly filled the soil
with the parasite and no plants of flax
can live there longer than three weeks.
9. All other farm crops do well upon
the flax sick soil. 1t has not lost fertil-
ity for flax. as is proved by experiments
which destroy the spores without injur-
ing the. soil.
10. The fungus belongs to genus Of
plants which botanists have called Fusa-
rum. AS this is a new species, We shall
call it Fusarium lini.
H. Much of the soil OF th:c state has
not yet been infected; but about SO per
cent OF all samples of seed fax yet ex-
amtned show the presence of the Fusa-
rum spores. 1t is probable that no sam
pie of flax seed is entirely free from in
lection.
r. When the soil is once infected no
way is known to rid it of the parasite.
The fungus is able to live in the soil for
many years without the presence of
flax crop to feed upon.
Is. All flax seed should be treated to
kill the spores of the Fusarium. for only
a microscopic can detect the presence of
the spores.
A. The seed flax should be thoroughly
graded and cleaned in tanning mill be-
fore treating. This will remove all of the
bits Of diseased flax straw and chaff
which would not be sufficiently treated to
kill the fungus inside of them.
Is. Treatment: Use formaldehyde at
the rate of one pound of standard
strength to thirty gallons of water.
Spread the seed upon tight floor or
upon a canvas and sprinkle or spray on
a small amount of the liquid "a fine
spray is best). Shovel, hoe or rake the
grain over rapidly Repeat the spraying.
hoeing or raking until the sur
faces of all the seeds are EVENLY moist,
not wet enough to mat or gum. but
thoroughly damp. (This can be done
without mating If we'll hoed or shoveled
over) Leave the grain piled for several
hours. The dry grains will absorb the
excess OF moisture without injury or
and the spores of the disease
will be killed by the fumes. 1t is best
to treat in the morning. Shovel the grain
over once or twice during the day to be
sure that it may not heat. Sow 1t next
day. 1t takes about one-half gallon of
bushel of flax seed
16. Measure the grain before treating.
and measure 1t again before drilling. You
will then know how much to seed per
acre, as it may be swelled slightly.
IL. Sow flax seed as shallow as pos
sible. Three-fourths Of an inch of dirt
cover Is the best depth.
IS. Sow upon as firm a seed bed as can
be made, with good fine even surface.
~. Scaly fax seed and seed which has
been wet Is always very poor for seed. |
Such seeds llarbOr the spores of fungi
which kill the young plants as soon as
the seeds germinate
70. Cease sowing flax year after year
upon the same land. Put at least one |
cultivated crop and one or more other |
crops between flax crops.
Burn as much of the old fax straw
and stubble which remains upon the |
ground as possible.
Raise your own flax seed, grade 1t up |
10 the best. Watch for diseased areas |
and notify the station. Thresh your |
seed, when you can, in your own machine |
from a patch of strong healthy fax and |
store 1t in a clean bin.-H. l.. Bolley.
News Notes.
James river valley lands will be in
demand from now on if the number
IF prospective purchasers is taken as
N indication. There is steady stream
If landseekers arriving daily. Many
ook over Stutsman county lands and
ire pleased with the tracts and prices.
The validity of the action of the
BOARD of equalization in equalizing
he personal assessment of North Da-
So1a has been attacked in an action
by the Duluth Elevator COM
,any against members of the state