The Ronan pioneer., 1917-05-11

Alter Bfeakln& GrOunu; SncrluoAi
County Farmers Favor Deep Plow-
ing, From Four to Five Inches.
Flax grows we'll in Mont. IA
sod, and is Il good producer Vt
cash, according to Bozeman Ag-
ricultural college experts, who
advise that it may be planted as
late as June Is. Big flax BUSH
elage of flax expected to be
grown this year.
While there is a growing apprecia-
ton of the Importance of flax as a
cash producer in rotation with other
crops on old land, at the present time
in Montana flax is thought of pri-
marily as a new land crop. Most of
the flax seed which will be produced
in Montana this season will come
from sod.
Assuming that the farmer realizes
the necessity of planting flax that is
free from seeds of weeds, the Mon
tana experiment station is endeavor-
ing to impress upon him the advis-
ability of securing for seed a speci-
fled variety which has sturdy ten
dency to resist flax diseases. Light,
chaffy seeds. and the seeds of some
weeds may be eliminated by using
tanning mills, which is advised for
that purpose. There are some weed
seeds however that cannot be re-
moved by the tanning mill, notably
the weed of the wild mustard. To
guard against introduction of such
weeds through flax, it is necessary
that the farmer see to it that the
seed he secures to plant contains
none Of it. Add to these seed-selec-
ton precautions the proper treat
ment of the flax with formaldehyde
solution before planting.
Pack the Soil.
OF the utmost Importance in a
flaX-grOWing program that insures
success under normal conditions, is
the preparation of firm, we'll
packed seed bed on the sod breaking.
Most of the farmers who reported
in the flax survey now being taken
in Sheridan county, recommend rea-
sonably deep breaking, from four to
five inches. On the day the sod is
broken, it should be rolled and
packed while the soil is yet soft and
cheesy, to eliminate air spaces.
Where a disc is used it should not
cut through the sod and leave it in
loose chunks. Narrowing usually
completes a good seed bed for flax.
The Time to Sow.
This year, when the cry is to plant
spring wheat, flax fits into the pro-
| rn11 no
later than is advised for spring
wheat and be reasonably certain OF
maturing into good crop. The ad-
vice of the Montana experiment sta
ton is to SOW wheat up to May Is.
Flax may be sown from May Is even
up to June Is with good prospects
for a frost-free crop. Spring frost,
when flax is from one to three inches
high, is apt to do little harm, but the
slightest frost after the flax bios
SONS while bolls are still green, is
sure to do great damage.
One of the outstanding factors in
the tremendous appeal of the Unit
ed States government to it's farm
population for a greater production
is the insistence upon the Importance
OF breaking out great acreage Of
raw land this season for subsequent
crops. Flax rises to it's niche in the
great system because, planted on the
new-turned sod it furnishes a cash
crop to the farmer with promise of
exceptionally high prices, and pre-
pares the ground for good spring
wheat crop the following spring.
Farmers who see this opportunity
to achieve a double purpose by get
ting in a cash crop and at the same
time preparing ground for spring
wheat the following season, are ad-
vised to take early steps to secure the
supply needed of weedfree, disease
resistant seed The effect of flax on
the soil need not be feared. Flax is
a victim of circumstances in the de-
gree that it bears a reputation as a
soil robber Conclusive demonstra-
tions have proved that this wide
Il spread belief as to flax arises from
the fact that flax yields, on land
continuously planted to that crop,
are apt to show decreases. This is
due, it has been shown, to the intro
duction of flax wilt into the crop and
the soil.
Essentials to be born in mind in
flax planting are emphasized by the
Montana experiment station as fol-
lows:
Get weed-free, disease-resstant
flax seed
Use tanning mill.
Treat seed before planting with
formaldehyde solution.
Have breaking smooth and level.
Use heavy roller or packer imme-
y -, Iva,
ates air spaces and conserves mois-
ture.
Nine quarts, or 16 pounds of good
1o, sf,~ ri,