The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1910-04-02

ly written report Of the results OF this
visit was issued by the u. s. govern
ment as bulletin No. 274, and entitled
Flax Culture. 1t has been issued also
by North Dakota as bulletin No. II. IL
contains besides forty-four different
topics discussed in a msterful way a
large number of excellent photographs
taken in the countries visited
Flax Wilt.
To get an intelligent understanding
of the subject of FLAX wilt" we must
first get clearly the meaning Of some
words not in common use. They are:
Fungus, fungi parasite. spore. When
we say fungus or fungi we are talking
Latin and saying mushrooms. But
fungous plants are mot all mushrooms.
They include such flowerless plants as
puffballs, toadstools.- and minute
plants that cause mould on bread, etc,
also smut and rust on wheat. The cause
of flax wilt is a fungus called by Pro-
fessor Bolley Fusarium lini.
Now for parasite: A person who
comes to your home without being in
vited and lives from your bounties may
be called a parasite. Indeed, IL
means literally in Greek, eating beside
or at the table of another.
Lice, bedbugs, feas are human par
asites. also parasites Of lower animals.
A parasite has been known to live on
parasitic microscropeic louise on a
fly. Besides parasitic animals there are
parasitic plants, such as the mistletoe.
which lives on branches OF the ever
green oak of the southern states, dod-
der which winds about clover stalks
and sucks their Iife's blood. The fungi
which causes smut and rust on wheat
and the fungus. Fusarium lini, which
causes fax wilt are parasites.
The last named fungus parasite.
Fusarium lini, can live year after year
In the humus Of the soil without flax
plants to live on and Is ready to attack
the tender roots of young fax plants
as soon as any flax is sown on land
thus infected. 1t does so by sending
thread-like growth into the root and
up the stalk which causes the plant TO
wilt and die When this minute en-
eny Is mature it bears microscopic
seeds called Spores" which. being
shaken off the fax stalks at threshing
cling to the flax seed. If the seed IL
slightly damp.
We get rid Of parasites on animals
by killing them; so, also, we must de-
stroy the life of these spores that cling
all unseen to seed flax. if this disease
is to be quarantined. Unless this is
done the disease will keep spreading
rapidly until all the lands sown to fiax
will eventually be flax sick" No
practical way has vet been discovered
of freeing land once infested by this
fungus parasite. Fusarium lini burt by
ceasing, five or six years, to grow flax
on such land. And SO the important
thing to do is to place under quarantine
all lands now free from this disease.
Mr.. Bolley has found these spores
(Which resemble a boomerang both in
shape and effect) can be killed hv
treating all seed fax with a formalde-
hyde solution, strong enough to kin the
spores but not strong enough to XIII the
flax seed at the same time. It is ona
pound avoirdupois oft40 per cent for
maldehyde to forty gallons Of water.
AS the subject of resistant dax.
first bred by Mr.. Bolley) does not
necessarily come under the head 81
flax wilt" you are referred to North
Dakota bulletin No 81, which win he
mailed free upon application to anv
farmer. teacher or student IN the state.
Also press bulletin NO %, Resistant
Flax and How To Get It.
Finley, N. u.