Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1909-1915, 1910-09-02
FLAX SEED
AND PRO-
DUCTS
TO THE FLAX GROWERS OF THE
NORTHWEST AND OF NORTH
DAKOTA IN PARTICULAR,


The importance of the max crop to
the northwest is one worthy of vour
closest consideration. Statistics of
the crop indicate that it is gradually
losing ground in the northwest in the
same sense as it has done in every
state in the union.
The northwest, and particularly
North Dakota, can i'll afford to loose
so important crop from their short
list of available crops for general
farming. The records of this crop
show that it has been one of the great
money makers of North Dakota, and
previously did equally well for Mime
sofa and the other older states.
have become convinced through
my studies that it is not necessary
that the flax seed crop should be lost
to the northwest, and shall try to help
the farmers save the crop much in
the same sense as the wheat crop has
been saved from the ravages of loose
smut, and the potato crop from It's
various enemies. North ii alone
annually produced half Of the flax
seed crop of the United States, and
considering the ruling prices for the
seed the Importance of the crop is
plainly evident. At this time I can
only say that the fax crop is not de-
structive to the fertility of the soil,
and that with proper handling the
new soils Of the northwest need not
be infected with the diseases which
have driven the crop out of the soils
in the older regions, and that with pro-
per handling the crop can be placed
into profitable growth upon the older
lands where the diseases now exist.
This can only be done by a careful
consideration Of the methods of plant
Ing, by the selecting of pure, clean
seed, by disinfecting the seed before
sowing it, and by conducting proper
rotations to keep the soil free from
the growth of the fax root fungi
which may chance to reach it. The
Importance Of the question of pure
seed and keeping the soil free from
the persistent parasites which destroy
the crop is so great that If overlooked
the crop must certainly eventually be
aost in any particular neighborhood.
If farmer fails to treat his wheat for
the prevention of smut, he may have
to sell 1t as rejected wheat, but he
has not injured his land. If he fails
to treat his fax seed for the pre-
vention' of the root diseases he not
only eventually loses his crop but in
lures his land for the growth of fax
hereafter. Furthermore, he places
the lands Of his neighbors in jeapordy,
as the parasites which rot off the
roots Of the fax plant and cause wilt
live in the soil for a number of years.
= The department Of botany, of the
North Dakota Experiment Station pro-
poses to aid all persons interested
In procuring clean seed for sowing
purposes by keeping a bureau of in
formation. We hope to be able to fur
nish weekly to anybody who SO de-
sires a list Of seedsmen and farmers
who can furnish fax seed which is
fit for sowing purposes, and further
upon request will supply Information
to any farmer who expects to SOW fax
as to Just how to go to work inorder.
to disinfect the seed and prepare the.
seed bed. II you are fax grower and
wish to become part Of this pure seed
and pure soil organization, send in
your name and address and tell MS
whether you want seed or whether
you have seed for sale. Il possible we
VIII inspect your crop as It stands II
the Held. Otherwise you can send
samples or you can inspect It In the
bin.