Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1911-11-02
- X + !. 4 !. * = i. ]. X 4 +
American and Eu=
ropean Flax Condi=
tions Contrasted.
BY n. L. BoIIey, Biologist.

Ed. + i X I. i :. 4 !. 4 j. !. !. i. J. ..
A study of the general distribution
of the flax crop shows that it is able
to withstand a wide range of climate
and soil variation. It is grown sue.
c%essfully, either for fibre or seed, from
Algeria on the south to Archangel on
the north. The best grades of fax for
fibre are produced in regions of fer
tile soil and In districts of even, moist,
rather low temperature, such as is
found IN the Low Countries and the
Baltic provinces of Russia; while the
great seed producing areas have drier,
less fertile soils and drier. more rig
orous climatic features.
A study of the temperature and
moisture shows that there is as wide
a range of variation in the different
Russian flax producing provinces as
that found upon our Northwest plains.
indeed, there are many similarities of
conditions. Thus the Russian flax
areas all lie we'll within the mean
temperature lines, which enclose Man
ttoba, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa,
Wisconsin and parts of Michigan. For
example, the same lines of temper
allure (isotherms), July 60 degrees and
January 0 degrees, pass through
A%rchangel, Viatka and Winnipeg; and
the great flax producing areas of each
country lie Just south Of this line.
Again, the isotherms of July, 80 de-
grees, passes through Pierre, S. D.,
Dubuque, Ia, and slightly south of
Odessa. A consideration of the mois-
ture conditions of the areas included
does not show an ~unfavorable COM
parison; and the soils of North Dakota
are without doubt sufficiently strong
and Of a proper type. The Russians
raise heavy seed crops upon their dry,
windy plains and make a marked sue
cess of producing both fibre and seed
in the central provinces, under soil
and climatic conditions which resem-
Bile quite closely those of the Red Riv.
er valley. Two features of the Rus.
sian culture, however, are very ap-
parent. CD More attention is given
to the variety and quality of seed
used, crop rotation, ETC., and, (2), flax
farming and the production Of fibre
are much more closely associated than
in this country, the peasants there,
each in a small way, producing both
seed and fibre. 1t seems apparent
that the difficulties affecting the sue.
cess of the crop and industry in this
country are, in general, not those arts,
ing from poor soil and climatic con.
ditions, but are rather to be referred
to methods practiced in the culture
and in the handling of the crop, which
American machinery and intelligent
labor ought readily to overcome. Most
of the trouble due to improper meth.
DDS of culture will disappear whes
our farmers recognize the importance
of growing their own flax seed from
pure strains or varieties, and wheE
they have in view a definite purpose
with regard to the quality of seed and
type of straw to be grown. A very
great gain will also be made when our
people have reached such a study of
the fibre side of the question that this
most valuable part of the crop may
be saved. Because of the cost Of la.
Dor, we cannot hope to compete with
the hand labor of European peasants
To succeed in this fibre production we
shall have to develop types of farm
machinery which may not only take
the place of hand labor but excel it in
quality. A machine for pulling flax
seems possible of construction and
would do much toward building up
our growing fibre industry. The ra-
Itional flax crop for North Dakota is
one grown both for fibre and for seed
production; but to succeed, the farm
ers will have to select their seed and
keep it pure when once it is obtaineE.
The growth of the present fibre and
tow industry, if properly fostered,
ought to grow naeurally into a per-
manent fibre industry, in which much
finer grades Of fibre may be pro-
duced. 1t cannot, however, last in any
particular community, unless the
farmers can keep up the supply OF
straw. II 1t is to improve, the quail
ity OF straw produced by the farmer
must be improved. This can only be
accomplished by a rigid determine
ton to improve present methods Of
cropping. especially the principle ol
better selection OF seed.
80 MI 70.