Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1910-04-15
Scene of the Great Falls Land Office, show
ing Crowd at the Counter Waiting for
Chance to File on Homestead Land.
FLAX PROVES A VERY
PROFITABLE CROP


tempt to raise flax in this part of Mon
tana will encourage the seeding of Il
large area OF land to that crop the COM
ing season. Flax is regarded in North
Dakota and the eastern part of Valley
county as one of the crops that are best
adapted to newly broken land. but in
this locality there had been an attempt
to experiment along this line until last
season. says the Fort Benton River
Press.
Oscar Johnston. of this city. who is
operating Il stage line between Mondak
and Glendive, was impressed with the
profitable results Of flax raising in this
locality. and decided last spring to seed
Il part of his Arrow creek ranch to that
product. lie prepared about $50 acres
for that purpose. the land being in cN-
crllrnt condition. and along in May seed
cd the tract at the rate of two peck-
to the acre The seeding was not very
carefully done. and subsequent measure
mcnt showed that the seeding covered
only il little over al acres.
Gentle rains followed at intervals. the
genial sunshine warmed the soil, and the
combination Of moisture and heat soon
form the field into an rNpansc Of green.
The young plants developed rapidly.
! hen the blossoms began to appear. and
til" green field became a mass OF blue,
agitatrd into an Mduating eNpanse by
gentle brcrzes. and under continued ia
vurahlc conditions the seed began to
form. Nature appeared to be doing her
best to encourage Mr.. .John>ton'S efforts
to demonstrate that flax growing in this
par, OF Montana is ii profitable enter
prise
The crop ripcncd and was harvested
in due course. MIR. Johnston ant icipating
returns of about an average amount.
\ few weeks later the thresher began to
work on the crop and at the finish it
was discovered that Mr.. Johnston had
3.43O bushels of the finest flaNseed ever
raised in the northwest. As the crop
came from il tract that was little over
III acres in area. the result was an av-
crayc of little better than - bushels
per acre
1t was 4 phenomenal crop. and prob
ably it would not be duplicated by sub
selucnt attempts. the conditions under
which it was produced being exceptional.
And the size OF the crop was not the
only satisfactory feature of the enter
prise The flax seed market was on the
boom last fall. the Minneapolis market
quotations Yoin. up to 1925 per bushel,
and MIR. Johnston disposed uf his crop
of flax seed ut prices which gave it ii
total value of over $4,000. That amount
of revenue from al acre, looks good to
the average farmer.
In order To disprl or modify unrcaSon
ably optimistic expectations. caused by
this phenomenal yield. it is proper to
recall the fact that the average Montana
| yield of flax. under ordinary conditions.
| is about 10 to l. bushels per acre In
| reply to IN inquiry as to the proper
| method of ul,ivatiny this crop. Profess
| >or Atkinson. Of the agricultural college
at Bozrman. makes these suggestions:
Throuhnut certain of the dry farming
| sections of Montana flax is commonly
| planted ON spring breaking. The plan is
to break the land four or five inches
deep and follow the pillow with Il disc or
| packer to pack down the furrnw slice.
and in ease the packer is used. follow
this with the harrow to create Il mulch
for the conservation of the soil moi>
ture. The packing and surface condi
ton should follow Immediately behind
| INV TNN. NhlklHE uoNH tHe area tHeH
day before leaving the field in the ev
eniny.
The flax is seeded us soon as ground
is in condition. using about 20 pounds OF
seed to the acre. and seeding with Il
drill In case of heavy rains soon after
seeding. it is Il wise plan to harrow the
ground The crop has been fairly profit
able when planted in this way. yields
ranging from Id to - bushels an acre
being reported.