The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1911-06-30
SEEDS FROM FOREIGN LANDS

:, A high record importation of 20
millions dollars worth of fiaxseed in
the fiscal year 1911 is indicated by
the records Of the Bureau of Statis-
ties, Department of Commerce and
Labor, now completed for the 10
months ending with April, 1911. Dur
ing that period the imports of flaxseed
or linseed aggregated SA million bu-
shells, compared with a little over 3
million bushels last year and $4,000
bushels in the corresponding period
of 1909. The growth in value is
even greater, the 10 months figures
of the current fiscal year being 1874
million dollars, against 5 million in
1910 and but $73,625 in 1909. Tho
estimated importation of 20 million
dollars worth of flaxseed in the fiscal
year which ends with the present
month exceeds by more than 10 mil
lion dollars the value imported in
1909, is nearly IS million dollars
above the record of 1901, and is by
far larger than that of any other year.
During the ten years, 1901 to 1910
inclusive, a total of 13 million dollars,
or an average annual importation of
$1,000, 900 is shown, as against $2O,-
600, 600 for the single year 1911 now
drawing to a close.
FlaXseed furnishes the bulk of the
% millions dollars worth of seeds Of
various kinds imported during the
year. The other leading classes in
clude sugar beet, clover and castor
beans. OF these, the imports of
clover seed during the year will be
about 3 million dollars, those of sug-
ar beet and castor seed, each about
$500 900. The remaining 81 mil
lion dollars worth of seeds imported
includes grass, mustard, beet, cab
bage, poppy and flower seeds, also a
large number of seeds valued by rea-
son of the volatile oils and perfumes
contained. such as anaise, caraway,
coriander and fennel.
The price of imported flaxseed
tends to increase from year to year.
In 1897 the average price per bushel
was $1.OS; in 1901, $1,27; in 1908,
$3.50; in 1909, $1.4O; in 1910,
$40; and in 1911, $2.04, for the
high record importation of 81 mil
lion bushels in the 10 months ending
with April.
Argentina is the chief source Of
The flaXseed imported into the United
about 500 of the imports
1910, having been from that
compared with about $50
from Canada and about 40 each
rom the British East Indies and Bel
Nearly all the sugar beet seed
imported came from Germany, while
,lover is imported chiefly from Ger
many, Canada and France.
The very large increase in importa-
ions of 1axseed during 1911 is duo
o the partial failure of the crop last
ear. The flaxseed crop of the Uni
ed States Is, according to figures OF
he bureau of statistics of the depart
nent of agriculture, chiefly produced
n Minnesota and North and South
The crop in North Dakota
asst year was to a large extent a fail
re, reducing the domestic produc-
ion by nearly one-half, and the
mount available for market pur-
oses, hence the large importation
n the current year from foreign
ountries.
The shortage in the domestic crop
( fiaxseed and presumably in the
of linseed oil is reflected
I the large imports Of oil Of that
haracter during the current year.
turing the nine months ending with
Iarch, 1911, the imports for con-
lmption of linseed oil aggregated 81
O7,425 gallons, valued at 02,198,-
70 compared with 467,664 gallons,
alued at $258,390, in the entire
seal year 1910 and but 28,102 gal
ms, valued at $13,G49, in the fis-
al year 1909.