Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-08-05
ONE WHO KNOWS It
WRITES ABOUT FLAX
DR.. Harry Mckay Tells Of
Early Experiences a
Flax Enthusiast

This is a story of flax culture in Ore
gon, written by man who was born
in Ireland, who worked in the flax
fields as youth and who later became
interested in the raising of flax in the
Willamette valley 1t is written by
Dr. Harry F. Mckay of Portland to
Theodore Roth, president of the Oregon
Flax Fiber Co.
DR.. Mckay writes in part:
"'When | first located i'll Portland
over 30 years ago, | noticed the climat-
ic conditions were somewhat similar
to those of northern Ireland where |
was born. 1t struck me that flax could
be raised in the willamette valley.
From small package of seed sent me
from my old home planted near Port
land 1 grew a lengthy stock and good
fibre. Some years afterwards Mrs.
VIM. p. Lord called on me ana got
my views in regard to flax, and asked
me to address meeting of business
men in Salem.
81 told them about flax and what
it had done for the north of Ireland.
Very little progress was made until
years after, and Mrs. Lord and Others
including myself, donated small tract
for experimental purposes. Flax was
grown, retted and scutcned. | secured
an experienced man in Portland fol
Mrs. Lord, a man who had been. en-
gagged in scutching flax in the county
of Antrim. The crop was scutched and
sent to several mills and we had the
pleasure of receiving linens which eX
celled those made in Ireland and even
excelled the Courtrai flax. This plac
ed it beyond the experimental stage.
"Little progress was made anC
when the legislature voted money
hoped that it would 90 with leaps and
bounds and l pictured the growth OF
Portland as well as other cities in the
valley. Flax made Belfast with it:
population of more than 100000.
"My principal object in writing is
to offer few suggestions. When
was in Europe in 1902, l took with ms
some flax | had obtained in Salem.
called on the York Spinning Mills al
Belfast, employing 5000 spinners
When | handed the sample to one Of
the officials L said, give me YOU
opinion on the quality of tlfis flax.
After a close examination, he said
'Ths is Courtrai flax. When / TOLD
him it was grown in Oregon, he scarce
| lye believed me, saying that the sam
pies sent from the Ullted States wer'
much coarser. He called several Off
cials and they were astonished at th'
tensile strength. far
"In Ireland the seed used is what il
called Riga and is sold by grocers il
every village. The farmer purchase
the seed he needs, it is pulled and ret
ted by the farmers and the retting i
done on his own land. Each fla
grower has series of dams or stupe
which are along tae fences, general.
in meadow land After the hay ha
been cut from the meadow, it is use'
for drying the straw after it has beer
sufficiently retted, the straw belni
spread out thinly to dry. When 1t /
dried, the farmer ties it in bundles ant
takes it to the scutch mill These mill
are scattered about the country. Thel
a flax market is held about twice eacl
montn during the season in the village
buyers coming for that purpose.
"Mr. Roth, | have wished man.
times 1 had the money some of on
Portland moss.backs have as ! woul
not hesitate in risking fortune o.
the flax. We can grow the flax with
out a doubt Think of how much mon
ey is spent for the twine for the max
ING of nets on the Columbia river. F"