The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-10-18

( not prove that the crop would not Go
well under conditions Of thorough cul-
tivation, but does point out to us the
| kind of preparation for the seed-bed
that must be made. in order to meet
the requirements Of this semi-wild
crop. Farmers will thus find success
upon old lands and upon lands where
thorough cultivation is practised only
under such conditions as will eliminate
weeds and yet, at the same time, pro-
duce a seed bed essentially as firm as
as The native prairie ground or sod.
Enemies Of the Crop,
The crop has several inherent enc
mics, among which are certain root
diseases which are transmitted by way
of the seed and by the old straw
which falls to the ground. These dis
eases In the wild are not sufficient to
greatly affect the perennial types Of
fax which are the most common
forms, but when carried by careless
methods to the crop under cultivation.
such diseases become extremely de-
structive because in the case of the
average fax crop the cultivation condi-
tions are not Of that nature which
gives the fax plant its best oppor-
ed many facilities to multiply. The
rayages of the parasites upon the crop
thus become sufficiently great to
materially affect the yield. In the
loose, mellow grounds OF ordinary agrt-
culture, these fungi find the best con-
ditions for their development upon
the old decaying flax straw, thus
rapidly filing the ground after being
once introduced, with the results that
the young flax plants Of following
crops, rapidly die away, leaving the
ground to grow up to weeds. The meth
DDS Of harvesting are also such as to
cause the fungi to multiply much more
rapidly than they ordinarily would in
nature The habits of the fungi, how
ever, are all Of such nature as to al
low the farmer to control them quite
well II he wishes to do SO. II he
would do so, both he and his neigh
bors must aim constantly to keep
sanitary condition of the soil and the
seed, to protect the crop.
Drouth Resisting Qualities.
I am convinced that there are few
crops, other than hoed crops, which
can withstand the amount of drouth
y
produce paying crop. 1t is my belief
that 1t can be produced in paying
quantities farther west and higher
upon the foothills Of the great plains
than any other of the small grains
This is especially. encouraging in view
OF the fact that, as yet, very slight
effort has been made to select from
among the various varieties, strains Of
oil producing fax seed TO procure seed
for any particular cropping region.
During the first two months of the
period following the seeding time. the
; flax seed crop is particularly resist
ant to drouth. If there Is sufficient
moisture to terminate the seed
and allow the young plants to
become rooted in Arm seed bed, the
crop is then in position to stand a
rigorous period Of drouth for from
thirty to forty days. Until the plants
: begin to produce the first blossoms,
there is yet time, II moisture is avail
able, for 1t to send out new shoots
and develop a sturdy crop. have
many times seen a fine crop of flax
matured after a period of drouth COW
ering the entire months Of May and
June. It Is no uncommon thing to see
the central shoot die away from
drouth, after which the stems send
up from the first node above the
ground branches to make a heavy
! crop of seed. II is able to thus resist
: drouth largely because of it's central
or top-root system by means Of which
1t gained a deep hold upon the sub
soil.
: Can oil fax be made crop under
dry land conditions? would then
7 answer in the affirmative because of
n the qualities of the crop and the con-
ditions under which dry land agricul-
ture Is conducted.
n 1. The crop as noted, is specifically
il a drouth resisting one by nature.
: 2. The conditions necessary to best
"a seed quality are found under those OF
q the semi-arid foothills Of the Rocky
= mountains, where dry land agriculture
: is being practiced; dry air. cool nights
d and warm, sunshiny days and firiu
), sub-soil.
i 3. The crop possesses the ability
to mature good seed under rapidly
le maturing conditions: that is to say
70 drouth at the close of the season. For
a while drouth at this time may tent
- to cut down the yield, it does not O.
ID necessity, injure the quality OF thi
II seed actually produced, for the plan
y is OF such nature and vitality that 1
re- may readily produce during the ma
ts turing period, a large amount OF see,
> on a small amount of moisture. In
,g deed, by nature 1t demands that yer,
condition; otherwise. the seed qualit
is apt to be inferior.
All of the requirements of the GRO
!, can thus, think. be met by method
= Of dry land agriculture and through
= out large areas Of the western region
~ for the soil chemically and by physic
es al texture, is of good type to furnis
- the conditions which the fax root
- demand. provided the farmer Is willin
= to carry out the essential condition
nc OF producing the seed bed and prepar
al ing the seed. All Of the demands {
- the crop seem 50 possible Of being ms
Ter under the dry land conditions, that
av., am inclined to recommend for 1t
generous trial by those who are
for position to give the crop reasonab
L attention.
,se Difficulties TO be Met.
IN There are several features with r,
op. gard to cropping to flax for seed pr,
ro- duction which are quite arbitrary
ght their demands.
md i. The crop, unless great care
IN taken in the selection of the seed al
his the proper disinfection OF the sam
the carries to the new land certain par
the site diseases which will remain be
od sistent in the soil after being once i
III trnd1Icad ana thew ara "a m hfa ~ :