The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1915-06-11

nearly a corresponding reduction in
production so that we find in 1914 a
world crop but little above the aver
age of the previous ten-year period,
in fact but little above that of ten
years. previous.
The amount of fax produced de-
ponds to a very large extent up the
price of this crop as compared with
other grains and is determined per-
haps more by the price of wheat than
Of any other staple crop.
Effect of War on Prices
The war in Europe has created a
temporary condition that has raised
markedly the price of wheat and as a
result very large areas Of land have
been seeded to this crop. In many
places it has replaced other crops on
the farm. The effect of this reduction
in other grains will undoubtedly be
to raise their price, as any material
decrease in supply will put production
below the needs Of the country. Thus,
any great increase in the price Of
wheat, must ultimately raise the price
of all other grain crops produced in
the same grain-producing centers of
the world.
Considering these various conditions
namely, the decline in the production
of flax, the upward tendency of prices
and the stimulus given to increased
wheat production, the fax crop will
this year undoubtedly command a bet
ter price than for the past two years
and will warrant maintaining the flax
acreage of the country and the State.
Within the past few years flax has
become a very important crop in
Montana. According to the Agricul-
tural Outlook, U. S. Farmers Bulletin
No. GAS, Montana produced in 1918,
100000 bushels of fax valued at
$4,14O,O0O. Only one state in the
union that year produced more fax
namely, North Dakota. In 1914 Mon.
tana produced 2,56O,0OO bushels valu.
ed at S3,O72, 900 and stood third in
production, North Dakota being first
and Minnesota second.
Flax as a Cash Crop
Flax has been largely used as {
crop for new land, being general,
grown on new breaking. Thus tn.
production of this crop has movet
westward with the development O
the new country. It will probably flint
a large place on the Montana dr.!
farms for many year to ome Th'
advantage Of this crop to the Mon
tana farmer is that when prices ar
right it is n Of the best crops tina
may be grown on new breaking. Lik'
wheat it always sells readily for cash
AS a rule it commands a higher pric,
in proportion to its weight than an,
other grain crop, SO can be markete,
proportionately more cheaply thar
other grain by those farmers distan
from a railroad.
90 sso!1d qua 9Bq9 p~sz!uSooe1 s! n
tanned for fax during the past tw'
years were but little if any above tn
cost of production. The farmer mus
have an adequate price for the cro]
if he is to continue to grow fax. Stu
dies on this cost are being undertaken
and we hope before another eas i
over to have more definite information
on the economic value Of this crol
to the farmers of Montana. How
ever, the situation is improving AM
prices for this year promise to be full.
Is per cent above what they were las
summer.
! Another factor to consider is tha'
interest is being taken in the fibe1
varieties of flax. A company has beer
organized in Great Falls to test thes.
possibilities so that we hope soon tx
have some definite information on fbel
flax for Montana conditions.
Selection of Seed for Sowing
The unpopularity of fax is du'
mostly to two cause.-the belief tina
fax is a soil robber and therefore har,
on land, and the introduction of weed
of the mustard family through tn
fax seed. Field exDeriments an,