Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-07-27
FLAX is A PAYING CROP

I IUN ~ u ItVu OJOI
Worth From $500 to $500 Per Ton,
but Requires Special Soil and
Right Climate.
CIV. r. CELEBRITY
4 THOUGH many farmers produce
| ~ a marketable fiber at price
which will leave a handsome
profit to the grower, there IS yet plen
ty Of room to improve and produce
the higher qualities Of fax fiber, which
are anxiously sought after in Europe.
! BY yet more careful handling and
| the choosing the best soils and climate,
flax can be produced worth from $500
to $500 per ton-this latter price is
not fnfrequently paid for small guam
titles produced In Belgium on the
River Lys.
| This flax has such wonderful quail
ties of softness, luster and strength,
that 1t is used for the manufacture of
the choicest lace and other high priced
linen articles. It only remains to be
found out If in some favored spot in
our own country we cannot produce
these high qualities Of fiber.
The soil and climate are the prin-
ctpal factors; then it devolves on the
farmers and manufacturers to find out
what the land will do.
| Wherever possible it will pay indi-
vidual growers to harvest the crop and
then sell to the nearest manufacturer
with the seed still on the straw.
The flax mill may be either propri-
etary or cooperative. The advantage
of one large mill lies in the posi-
| b1l1ty of one PRACTICAL man managing
the produce from hundreds Of acres.
And even the labor, on account of the
proficiency constant employment gives
the operators, will be less than if in
dividual farmers manufactured their
own crops.
In any case, the necese''-- of having
to buy complete plant would not
admit growers of small number of
acres yearly to work with advantage,
even assuming the owner has the nee
essary experience. Cooperative mills
have proved to be the most convenient
way of hauling both the seed and the
| fiber.
To establish the industry it is only
necessary that every farmer in dis
trict suitable who looks to the future
|
ty to forty acres. A fair trial will con-
j vince even the most conservative that
flax growing is at least equally as
profitable as any other ordinary farm
ing, and If nothing else, adds one more
product to those already cultivated,
with one absolute advantage that its
price is not subject to the various fluc-
tuations of many other crops.
| r. nj
ommend intending growers to make up
! their minds definitely what they will
do with their crop when grown; make
an agreement with the manufacturer.
fixing the price at which they will de-
liver crop of certain height and quail
| ity to the mill or to the buyer,
| They should see that they get good.
sound seed of either the Rega or Bel
gian variety of fax. Make certain
| by previous tests of the terminating
power of the seed. which should be
| at least 80 per cent.
From sixty to sfxty-f1ve pounds of
seed to the acre must be sown to
produce good results for both seed and
fiber. If the aim is to produce the
best of fiber at the expense of the seed
yield, up to 100 pounds per acre may
be sown on very good land.
Plow good and clean land as early
| in the fall as possible. If necessary
plow twice, to assist in making fine
seed bed.
Sow broadcast. Harrow in the seed
not more than one inch deep, In the
fall for choice, though in favored dis
tricts spring sowing will do, as the
crop will come up and mature in about
fourteen weeks.
When sown, see that the surface of
the land is as level as it is possible to
make it, to assist you in cutting the
crop with the binder. When pulling
| is intended, any new laid which will
work UP fairly fine will grow very fair
crops
| Remove all Objectionable weeds
Commence harvesting the crop when
the leaves fall off the stem and the
greatest portion of the seed bulbs have
turned a brownish color. When cut
ting see that sheaves are kept nice
and straight and not larger than the
smallest sheaf the binder will tie prop
erly.
Shock in long rows and let dry until
safe to stack. Never stack flax wet,
because If heated the fiber will spoil,
but rain will not hurt 1t in the shock.
See that all work in connection with
the fax crop Is performed with care
and in conscientious manner, wheth-
er the crop is for sale or the farmer
intends to work it himself.
NEVER TOUCHED THE FARMER