Morris tribune., 1911-03-24
FLAX WILT.
1t Is Absolutely Necessary to
Disinfect Flax Seed.

NO crop is more va aluaDle 10 Cne
Northwestern farmer than the flax
crop, and yet to preserve it. flax di-
seases must be stamped out.
i~ The North Dakota Experiment Sta
tion in recent bulletin says: =
1t is the history of the flax crop,
that on new lands it at first is sue
cess. but that after comparatively
new crops the yield rapidly falls until
it is no longer profitable. Farmers
have usually assumed that the soil is
depleted chemically. that some neces-
sary chemical element is removed and
many noted agriculturists have claim
ed that fax cropping is hard on the
soil. injuring it for other crops. These
belieefs, I believe, have been dis
proved. Flax is not particularly hard
upon the soil. but the methods of
cropping have usually been careless
and of such nature that the soils
speedily become infected by flax par
asites, which destroy the plants.
These considerations make the ques-
tion as to what to do in order to grow
fax on new lands and upon old lands
of the greterst Importance.
Essentials of Flax Cropping: ~
The first essential in fax cropping is
to clearly appreciate that the diseases
which bring about deterioration of the
crop are transferred from field to field
primarily by the seed, but often by
the blowing of dust from infected fax
lands. by drainage waters, by plows.
harrows, threshing equipments, infect
ed manures, etc. 1t is, therefore, of
first Importance that careful methods
of preventing soil infection should be
followed every year by all growers.
Unless farmers are willing to per-
sistently make every effort to prevent
the introduction Of the root killing
diseases into the soil, there can be
very slight hopes of retaining the flax
crop as permanent element of agri
culture in any community.
(2) The next essential rests in
proper rotation and proper seed bed
formation.
An attempt should be made to have
the drill place the seed down one half
to one inch. not deeper than one inch
nor less than one-half inch. Before
sowing, careful attention should be
given the selection of the seed. Poor,
scaley, diseased seed is what is ruin
ing the crop of fax, and destroying
the usefulness of the land for future
fax purposes. Scaley and shrivelled
seeds are mostly caused by the wilt
and canker diseases, and are usually
sure signs of the presence of such
diseases.
No matter how plump and brightly
colored the seed, there are apt to be
wilt spores present. This is due to
the fact that the disease is very gen.
eral, and only few sick plants pro-
duce an enormous number of spores
which rattle off of the dead straws at
threshing time and stick to the seeds.
Clean all seed thoroughly 50 as to
remove all sticks, dirt, chaf and scaly
seeds. Then treat the seed with
formaldehyde. 1t is absolutely essent-
ial in raising fax to disinfect the
seed. 1t is not difficult to do. if the
man who does it is provided with a
proper compressed air sprayer so that
he can throw a fine misty spray upon
the grain while it is being shovelled
and raked over. Use 1 pound of
formaldehyde to each 40 gallons of
water and approximately one-half gall
lon for each bushel of dry clean seed.
If the grain is thoroughly shovelled
and raked while the spraying is being
done the grain will be found to be
evenly damp all over. If left piled
for from one to two hours it will be
found fit to pass through the drill
without difficulty.
Those who do not properly treat
their seed not only spoil their own
chances for good crops but spread
these destructive soil diseases to
neighboring lands.
Sow not to exceed one-half bushel
of good fax seed per acre. If it all
sprouts there will be plenty of young
plants. 1t is not to wise to SOW any
fax seed which will not sprout at
once.
Study Crop Rotation: Any rotation
of five or more years will do wonders
for flax cropping, but it will be wise
to introduce at least one grass and one
cultivated crop in the series.
Remember that uneven depths of
planting gives uneven ripening and
that firm seed bed will allow you to
get an even depth of planting. A finn
saed hed halns tn protoct tho roots of