Morris tribune., 1912-04-19
FLAX CULTURE.
BY C. P. Bull, Minnesota Uni
Versity Farm.
+ j. + i X + :. j. :. \ - -. j. !. j


The many inquiries coming to the
experiment stations in the Northwest
indicate plainly that the culture of
fax is somewhat on the decline. Min.
nesota has given way to North Dako-
ia in the amount of flax produced an
nually. The two Dakotas and Mime
sofa produce about 80 per cent of the
total fax products in the United
States. The large oil mill interests in
the Twin Cities have an annual ca
pacity of approximately 100000
bushels. There are not more than H.
00O, 900 or 100000 bushels annually
produced in the Northwest.
In the last two or three years, be-
cause of the severe drouth, there has
been a great falling off in production.
When properly cared for fax is one
Of the most remunerative crops that
we have. Remuneration is offered
not only for the seed, but the fiber is
also in demand at the present time
and is factor worth considering. The
average price for fax is found to al
ways have remained above 81 per
bushel The average state yields are
approximately ten bushels. The cost
of production does not exceed $3.50
per acre; and, in view of the fact that
the land upon which fax is usually
grown is plowed-not with a view of
growing fax, but for getting it
under cultivation-the actual cost Of
producing fax would be relatively
less, including only the cost of seed.
harvesting, threshing and marketing
With better attention given to the cul-
ture Of the fax seed, selection, treat
ment for wilt, ETC., fax may be made
to yield twice as much as lie now OBJ
tanned.
The prevailing idea that fax is hard
on the soil is mistaken one. 1t may
be easily shown, from analysis given
by the various experiment stations,
that fax does not extract from the
soil more plant food elements than do
wheat or corn crops. The mistaken
idea has undoubtedly arisen from
the fact that fax does not do we'll
when grown upon the same piece of
land year after year, as has been the
practice with wheat. There are two
main reasons why this is So First,
fax has a relatively meager root sys-
tenn, thus not ramifying the soil as do
the grosser feeding crops, such as
wheat, oats or corn. Second, the flax
wilt is carried from year to year in
the soil and, when once present, will
gradually kill out the young plants
and lessen the vigor of the plants not
killed, to such an extent as to- make
the crop Improbable. Flax can be
grown upon any kind Of soil, provid-
ed there is good supply of organic
matter and available plant food.
The prevailing high prices for fax
have made it highly attractive as a
cash crop, and as result the seed
supply is hardly equal to the demand.
There is, therefore, practically no
danger of an overproduction or of a
! marked decrease in the price of flax
Farmers who have an opportunity for
growing flax should not hesitate to
take advantage of the present condi.
tons and grow large acreage A
well prepared seed bed ON carefully
selected soil will, together with a
treatment of the seed by means OF
fOrmaldehyde for fax wilt, practically
insure the crop. Let us have more OF
this crop grown. 1t fits into farm and
field management, crop rotation and
the pocketbook returns.