The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-04-21

where fax can be cultivated for fibre,
/ II already being cultivated there for
seed
The next extract from Mr.. Dodge's
report speaks Of the Oregon sample in
terms Of stronger praise than he any.
where speaks Of any Of the other sam
pies; indeed. he goes out Of his way.
as It we're. 10 add this further com
mendation. He says:
Regarding the Pacific coast sam
pies. can only say. judging from the
straw submitted. IN comparison with
the samples grown east Of the Rocky
Mountains, that they are remarkably
fine: and II such fax straw can Be
produced economically. We need not
be troubled concerning future sup
plies OF fibre for the Manufacture of
fine linen. should there be a demand
In this country for the higher grades.
The Oregon samples are Of such su-
perb color. the fibre would resenbled
the fax OF Courtrai There is a far
less percentage Of woody matter. or
shive. which breaks out readily when
drawn through the fingers. leaving a
clean. soft ribbon. or flasse. that IS
soft. glossy ard very strong. In my
report on vegetable fbres. issued by
this department over ~ years ago.
Oregou was especially named as a
most desirable state for the growing
Of fine fax The result OF last seasons
experiments proves that the matter
is not overestimated."
Something more than a year ago
Mr. Eugene Bosse. a Belgian. and
practical fax grower. came here to ex.
pertinent in fax culture. Behind him
is evidently plenty Of capital. and
he Is making a thorough and exhaus
tive test OF the matter. He Is very
conservative. and seems always remc
tant 10 express an opinion upon the
matter, 70 even talk fax. To a
Journal reporter. however. he relaxed
somewhat and spoke not only OF his
last years experience. but also OF his
Intentions He stated frankly that ne
did not consider last years expert.
ment an entire success. He said In
substance:
u was totally unacqualnted with
the country. rs varied soils. or It's
climate. Owing 10 the earlier seasons
here, than we have in the East. / did
not make the best selection OF land
possible. and In some cases not even. !
perhaps, a good selection. The result
was the crop was put In late. and the
season was mpropitlous. being cold
and backward rented the land. and
put In 223 acres. In spite OF untoward
circumstances. the growth was good
and the fibre excellent At one place.
Mr. Lund. four miles east OF Salem.
the crop went 3ia tons per acre. which
is a large yield. the average being
about two tons to the acre. The ibre
OF this crop was as good as that raised
at Caustrai Belgium. which Is the
best, found the most serious trouble
in getting labor 10 harvest II. and
finally brought n lot OF Japs from
Portland. Sull this help was not sur
hcient, and before I finished / had 20
resort 10 the moving machine TO save
IL, and even then some OF Il was un
harvested. would like very much,
said he, TO have the farmers put in
crop and would pay from sl2 20 SIS
per ton for the flax and seed. Howev.
er, they seem backward about trying
Il. so I have arranged for putting In
$50 acres this spring.
Understand that think the fax
situation here Is In the experimental
stage but this years crop will prob.
ably demonstrate the adaptabillty OF
this vicinity To fax culture. and will,
| think, at least. attract the attention
OF the fax world have contract
with the agricultural department at
Washington 10 grow 20 acres OF FAX
this year the seed to he furnished
me. There are three lots OF this seed
one coming from Belgium. one from
Holland. and one from Russia. am
keeping the data, as 20 soil, time OF
sowing, weather conditions. cost. etc.
and think this will demonstrate the
flax possibilities. Il will be four
months before I can make a complete
statement but l think can then
make favorable one"
Concerning the idea OF using Oregon
fax for tow. MIR. Bosse laughed and
siad That kind Of straw. the Kind
for tow. can be bought In the East
for 81 per ton. The Oregon fax is of
too fine quality 20 DO even men.
toned for tow"
Tie added that there We're. some pro
iects in view that were liable TO ma.
teriallze, but that for the present he