Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-08-08
The Possibilities of Flax Cultivation
I'm the South


The Possibilities of Flax Cultivation
In the South
W. r. j., Washington, Ca,
writes: Is it possible to raise flax
for fibre in Georgia, and can it
be made a profitable crop?
The flax from which the best fiber
is obtained appears to be produced
in the region Of Courtrai, Belgium.
The climate of that country is moist
and damp, and the temperatures
relatively low. The soils are entirely
different in character from those per-
tanning here in Georgia, and their
climatic conditions are entirely
different from ours.
According to pretty careful and
exhaustive experiments which have
been made in this country, the posi-
bilities of growing flax-flber on a
commercial scale would be limited
to parts of the states of Minnesota,
Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan and
Washington. In other words, we are
out of the area in which flax can
be grown to the best advantage. In
any event, it seems to me that there
are other crops which we could cul-
tivate with more profit and success
here in Georgia.
The retting or curing of flax is a
rather costly and troublesome under
taking. Skill must be exercised in
this particular or an unsatisfactory
fiber will be obtained. There are
three principal methods of accom-
plishing this: Dew retting, water ret
ting and chemical retting. Dew ret
ting is practiced in Russia, water
retting in Belgium and Ireland and
chemical retting is not generally
pursued as yet.
It is possible that flax might be
seeded in the southern part of Geor-
gia in the late fall or early winter
so as to develop with considerable
success before hot weather sets in.
The variability Of our seasons and
the vide differentiation in our soils,
however, might easily initiate
against the development of an ex-
ceptionally tall plant. This is de-
sirable as you can readily see in
order to obtain a superior grade of
flax fiber. Our present knowledge
of flax production would not lead us
to feel that We could advise our
farmers as yet to undertake it's pro-
duction in a commercial way in this
section of the south.
The Viability of Cowpea Seed
w. H. O., Gretna, Va, writes:
Can 'coWpeas be kept for two or
three years with fair degree of
certainty that they will germi-
nate? How should they be treat
ed to prevent weevil damage?
Will it pay to use as much as
per cent of potash on wheat and
oats?
While it might be possible to keep
cowpeas for two or three years with
fair success, we do not believe it
could be regarded as a wise policy
to pursue. The cowpea is a rather
soft seed, and, therefore, is very
readily attacked by the weevil. Aside
from this fact, it is also subject to
greater depreciation from natural
causes than a harder seed. There is
not much doubt in our opinion, how
ever, that cowpeas properly gather
ed, cured and kept would remain
viable for two or probably three
years. In order to accomplish this
successfully, they should be harvest
ed with care, properly dried and
kept under uniform temperatures.
o1e hA 70 +ro
the grain with carbon bisulfid so as
to destroy the granary weevil. This
can be accomplished by putting the
peas into tight containers and using
two pounds of carbon bisulfid for
each one thousand cubic feet of
space to be treated. The carbon
bisulfid evaporates and forms a fu.
migating gas as it were. The peas
should be aereated after the treat.
ment. The treatment should last at
least overnight, but not for more
than twenty-four' hours. A repeti-
ton of the treatment is necessary
to destroy the weevils that may have
Matched out after the first treat
ment.
We hardly think it necessary to
use as much as per cent potash on
wheat or oats. Where the land is
very sandy, 1t might be necessary
to use this much potash, but ordi,
narily, per cent would be enough
Of this element to apply. Our sug-
gestions as to fertilizer suitable for
wheat and oats would be about as
follows: On heavy, red clay lands
!. use a 3-8-2; on intermediate lands,
a 1913, and on thin, sandy lands, a
3-10-4.