The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1918-08-17
SCHOOL TRACT
RAISES GRAINS
TWO KINDS OF FLAX, SUDAN
GRASS, BUCKWHEAT AND
FETERITA PRODUCED
Visitors Welcome at Demonstration
on North Main Street

Among the novelties grown on the
high school demonstration tract on
north Main street by Prof. Elliott are
two entirely distinct kinds of flax.
AS farm crop flax has not been
very popular with Stevens county
farmers although many have grown it
in the eastern states from which they
originally came. The flax in the
demonstration tract was seeded about
May 10th and the two plots at first
looked identically alike. One Of
them is known as seed flax and ia
grown entirely for the production of
linseed oil Consequently straw was
not desired but only the largest
amount of seed. This plot only
grew to a height of nine inches but
the plants are heavy with seed. The
other plot is known as fiber flax and
is grown for the manufacture of linen
tiber. Under favorable conditions of
moisture this variety would grow. to
Il height of about three feet or even
more but in seed production would
fall far short. The small plot grew
well, making height of about two
feet. Flax for seed ought to prove
profitable crop on the newer lands
of Stevens county and the price at
present is very high.
Another interesting plant that is
showing up well, although planted
very late, is Sudan grass. This is
promising forage plant looking
something like sorghum and was in
troduced from Africa by the govern
ment some years ago. The seed has
always been expensive and this has
prevented it's introduction. 1t grows
very tall and has already reached six
feet in height in the school tract. 1t
has tendency to stool out from the
roots and on this account does not re-
quire as much seed. 1t will yield
from two to four tons to the season
Of good forage which is highly rel
ished by cattle. 1t would pay we'll
if grown for seed alone. That Su-
dan grass will fit in well with Ste
vens county conditions is plain to be
seen from the specimen plot growing
in the school tract, for the hay, al
though coarse, and from annual seed
ing, is very nutritious and will re-
place ton for ton higher priced hay
like timothy and alfalfa.
Two other unusual crops planted
were buckwheat and feterita. The
former was almost entirely killed by
the late frosts although the plants
that survived have grown and bloomed
exceedingly we'll. AS buckwheat is
we'll adapted to northern conditions
and is also a short season cereal crop
it would appear well suited to the up
lands of this region. 1t always
yields profitably and brings a high
price on the market. Every one
knows the use to which the flour pro-
duced from buckwheat is put but
many may not know that as honey
producing plant nothing will equal it.
Feterita is a crop very we'll known
in Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma
where Kaffir corn, milo maize and
many similar crops to which it is
first cousin, are more depended on
than corn. Like many of the plants
introduced from Africa it needs
warmer climate than the northwest
ern states can supply although the
seed from which this plot was grown
was secured from farmer on Snake
river near Charleston. 1t is not like
ly that it will mature here. The
flour which is produced from feterita
is recognized as one of the substi-
tutes for wheat by the U. S. food ad-
ministration. 1t makes a flour
which is whittier and more desirable
than that secured from any of the
common substitutes.
Visitors to the demonstration tract
are always welcome at any time and
those interested would do well to see