The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-09-19
FLAX CANKER;
ITS PREVENTION
PROF. 4. /. RoLLEY or THE a. c.
DISCUSSES ANOTHER DISEASE
OF FLAx-DEEP FLOWING TO
INSURE MOISTURE AND RoTA-
TON or CROPS NECESSARY.

Many people complain that theIr
max has been breaking over as IL whip.
ped by the wind or gnawed BY insects
says Prof. Fl. l.. Bolley In a recent
bulletin. The trouble Is a disease
which attacks the seeds internally.
Any cankered plant which produces
mature seeds will produce seed which
the next season will produce canlxerea
plants A small canker Is formed on
the young plant just at or above the
seed leaves Immediately following the
time when the young seed leaves vel
low and drop off, This portion Of the
stem never enlarges II enIarges above
and below this point and the plant
continues to live and grow until it's
top causes IL to break over. Wherever
one OF these plants falls the ground
Tor number of feet about it the next
year will produce almost entirely
cankered plants, but, this time, the
plants will not break over. They will
De yellow and very sickly. appearing
weak and all of them will mature more
or less seed but that seed will produce.
next year, real canker plants. that liz,
plants which break over.
The dryer land regions of the Mis-
souri, river slopes are not very subtcot
to wilt. 1t does not seem abba tc get
hold Of the fround to remain there, bur
canker spreads rapidly.
This Is real argument for crop
rotation so far as fax is concerned.
No man can afford to sow fax twice
In succession on his lands II he wants
GO continue to produce good crops.
There should go between each flax
crop three or four other crops. es-
pecially one or two cultivated crops,
the last crop just preceding the fax
on such land where the disease has
been started should be a cultivated
crop Corn furnishes the best results.
AS THIS disease is very destructive
under dry soil conditions the farmers
must practice deep blowing on their
clay subsoils SO as to allow the water
to penetrate that the plant may have
an abundance Of water throughout the
year. Wherever sufficient water is
maintained in the soil to give the fax
plant normal growth canker is not
able TO do much damage. This con-
dit1on Is reversed when we consider
wilt.
A popularity Of fax canker ig that
the chief source of transmission in in
ternal infection OF the young plant In
the seed. Such plants, when they frst
come up, either have yellow seed Ieaveg
or ones with canker on them or brown
spots, and such leaves fall Off early
leaving slight scar which finally de-
Veiops into real scab or canker which
looks like a place eaten by ants or
crlckets. All cankered seed il more
or less shriveled and light weight.
Farmers should select seed with this
point in view. Plump and bright col
ored seed should be selected, for the
reason that such are not apt to have
been grown upon sick plants. Grade
this seed thoroughly so as to eliminate
the lightest portion Of it. Treat the
seed with formaldehyde so as to kill
any spores Of the disease which may
De on the outside of the healthy seeds. |
busted there by the spores falling from |
the stems OF the diseased plants at |
threshing time. Farmers should prac- |
tee crop rotation to give this parasitic |
disease Of fax a chance to die out OF /
the land. Use cultivated crops to stir |
up the soil and bring the spores of the /
disease up to the air so they can be /
terminated and Killed. They should
give deep blowing In order that a large
amount of subsoil moisture may be
Each farmer should select his seed
lax for next year while the crop Is
yet in the field. He will know whether
1e is selecting his seed from diseased
area or from a clean crop.
We hope that this may aid you in
aelping others of your neighborhood 20
combat this trouble. We will enclose
circulars giving further information
IN the matter of handing fax to any
who send us their address.