The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1908-11-19

eu11dCo VI TIC lana is SO utll0 SIU100
that frequently the seed is not all
covered. In fact, much of it is left
uncovered. Were it not that it Is ire
Quently sown as the first crop on new
land the yield would be much less
than It is
The flax crop is sown late as rule
This in a grain growing area is a
great advantage, as it makes it pos
s1ble to SOW the other crops earlier
than fax and also to reap them earlier,
thus dividing better the work of the
seed time and the harvest. The month
OF May is the usual time for sowing
flax in the American Northwest. but
1t is more commonly sown late in May
and during the first half of June than
earlier. Good crops of fax have been
grown soWn as late as the end of
June, but an early autumn frost would
undoubtedly nip such crops. The best
season for sowing, all things consid-
cred, is the last half of May.
More frequently the land is plowed
Tor flax in the spring than in the au-
tumn. The aim is to put on land
broken from grass. When the break
ing is new the blowing is shallow,
not more than three to four inches.
When from timothy sod it is about
Tour inches. In the future not very
distant nearly all the fax grown will
be produced from tame grass sod.
Inc ploW1ng should be carefully done,
all the ground being turned over. 1t
should then be rolled at once with a
heavy roller to make it even and
smooth. Then, if the blowing is done
early, it should be disked to aid In
the retention of moisture and probably
also narrowed. When treated thus
the blowing should be done early
rather than late
The aim should be to SOW the crop
with the drill. 1t should be sown
shallow, as shallow as the drill will
SOW 1t to cover it, unless where the
danger is present that the soil will
blow. The seeded should be fine
and firm, but not necessarily deep.
From one-half to one bushel of seed
is soWn per acre. When the soil is
well prepared and the seed is good
not more than half bushel of seed
Is used and it is seldom that more
than three pecks are necessary.
Under all conditions, unless where
the farmer grows all his own seed
and is absolutely sure that fax wilt
IS not present, he should treat his
seed with solution Of formaldehyde
before sowing it. This is best done
by first cleaning the seed. This is
important, as formalin will not kill
the fungous germs found on bits of
straw, chaff or old, shriveled seeds.
The solution is one pound of formal
dehyde to forty-five gallons of water.
The seed is spread on a floor and is
shoveled over constantly to prevent
particles from adhering when wetted.
The solution should be applied SLOW
~ and evenly by using force pump
with a finely perforated nozzle and
which throws a fine, mistlike sprav.
One-half gallon is called for to
bushel Of flax. If the flax wilt once
gets into the ground there is no say
Ing when that ground will be free
from it.
At present the waste of fax fiber is
enormous. The straw is nearly all
burned. Recently, however, the man.
ufacture of the straw into binding
twine has been begun Much of the
straw will probably be used in that
way in the future. Both flax and
straw are purchased for such work,
the flax being separated from the
straw at the mills. A longer fiber is
wanted for this work than is usually
grown.
Nearly all the fax grown in the
United States is ground and oil ex-
tracted therefrom. The larger por-
ton by far of the oil cake resulting is
sent to Europe. This is not only a
grand food for live stock, when fed in
moderation, but it is exceedingly rich
In fertilizing ingredients. These are
forever lost to American soils.