The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-10-18
FLAX AS A DRY LAND CROP
DISCUSSED BY PROF. B0LLEY
One Of the Big Feature Addresses the Dry Land Congress
IN Colorado Springs Was Address BY Well Known
n D. Agricultural College Man

Colorado Springs. Col. Oct. 1S.-Flax
as a Dry Land Crop, was the subject OF
one OF the feature addresses of the dry
farming congress now In session here,
by Prof. H. l.. Bolley Of the North Da-
kota Agricultural college. Mr.. Bolley
said
In discussing flax as possible airy
land crop, would not willingly raise
any false hopes: the crop, however,
possesses many characteristics wor-
thy Of serious consideration by those
who are in position to give 1t trial
on the semi -arid portions OF the grea'
plains.
Wide Range of Possible Culture.
The development Of this crop would
indicate that IL is one of very VIDE
range of possible growth. There are
two types of the crop under cultivation
One which is grown for fiber, and
one which is grown primarily for seed
production for oil purposes. The fber
strain OF plant demands an even
growth season in which there is a very
little variation In the moisture con-
tent Of the soil or in that OF the hu-
nudity of the atmosphere, cloudy
skies, cool atmospheric conditions
even SOIL and atmospheric moisture
These conditions, dry land agriculture
Of the western plains can hardly ex-
pect TO furnish. In tho production OF
fiber, the aim Is to get long dehcate
growths of straw, and a comparatively
small amount of seed Is expected upon
a well developed fiber crop; in the
production of the seed crop, the con-
! ditions, with the exception OF the
even maintained moisture content OK
the soil, are almost reversed. AS to
soil quality, the seed crop actually has
a wide range Of growth and Is devei-
oped successfully upon a large Varle-
ty OF soil types, and under atmospheric
conditions which it may be said are
somewhat erratic In character. Some
of the very finest types of oil produc-
ing fax are grown on lands and under
climatic conditions bordering on those
Of a desert. Others are found upon
the foothills and mountain slopes, un-
der climatic conditions which make
the crop liable to frost at both ENDS
of the season, and yet other satisfao-
/ tory crops are produced under condi-
lions of comparatively moist landSagn-
culture such as are represented In
southwestern Minnesota and north
central Russia; in otherEwords, under
conditions OF forest and lake environ
ment.
This seed strain Of the crop possess
es many characteristics which, in my
belief, may be met under dry land
conditions Of agriculture, represented
in the foothills Of the Rocky Noun
tains, from Saskatchewan to south
western Texas. 1t is the popularity
Of the seed crop that 1t possesses this
wide range Of capability with refer
ence to climate Thus, there are SPLEEN
did crops Of fax raised in south India,
in northern Africa, in southern Hun
gary, south Russia, and l have seen
fine fields of seed fax grown in the
regions Of the Ural mountains IN
northwestern Siberia, and yet, east
southeastward from the Caspian sea-
The fact is that there is a wide range
OF varieties which are not as YET dis
tinctly separated which seem suitabls
for culture under the various eli
matte conditions as represented by the
hot southwestern and the cooler north
western plains of our country. So
far as l have observed, the most es
sential features Of climate which the
crop demands, are hot, dry, sunshiny
days with rather cool nights-ap-
preaching frost onditions-through-
out most Of its development season:
viz, atmospheric conditions which
may be said to be characteristic OF
our great plains as they approach the
fhn
whether they be south or north. Az
TO soil. according to the water content
a good crop can be raised upon many
types Of soil, both as to chemical con-
stitutents and physical texture.
have seen splendid crops of fax or
fine, light colored, sandy lands, SINH
lar to conditions of white pine lands
/ have seen splendid crops grown
upon peaty, bog like lands when wei
drained, but the uniform and chief re-
quirements OF the crop seem to b.
met by a soil of reasonably workabl
surface texture and a rather compac
sub-soil, soil which under the dry
ing conditions OF the hot sun an
clear sky, will MAINTAIN and furnish a.
even though not high moisture con
tent.
To make the statement definite, tn
chief demands of the fax seed GRO
will be met in a locality possessing
bright clear sunshiny sky, warm day
and cool nights. upon a soil Of goo
fertility for cereal production, whic
possesses a rather firm sub soil cap
able Of furnishing an even moistur
supply 70 the roots of the plant
throughout the growth season. and ap
preaching drouth conditions durin
the maturing period.
The Habits Of the Crop.
The nax plant in it's habits, appal
entity has never been very great
changed from the wild. This, thin
Is particularly true of the seed pre-
duction strains. The native home
practically all of the various typ
of wild fiax may be characterized
upland sods Of hard. harsh textur
and dry climatic conditions. This oil
servation is of Importance in handlil
the crop for the production of see
1t In a well known fact that natl
prairie plants cannot do well und
conditions of intense cultivation. Fs
IL any of them ever become plants
weedy nature in cultivated fields I
this reason. They disappear whe
ever the ground has been made loo
and mellow. This proves to be esse
TALLY the case also with the FAX crC
Nothing more destructive to the pr
duction OF fax seed can be broug
about than to dig up the ground a
leave 1t in a loose. mellow, ashy co
dition. The fax crop cannot stand Il
sort Of treatment at all. AS under
wild conditions, It liked to root in
hardest, most compact sort of 81