The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1923-05-18

"How About Flax This Year?" is
a question recently discussed by R.
B. Bowden, publicity director of the
Montana extension service, in a talk
over the radio for The Montana
Farmer, leading farm publication,
which is published at Great Falls.
Mr.. Bowden said:
''In the spring the farmers fancy
lightly turns to thoughts of-well,
not always to flax. But at that, flax
F., insistently claims attention year after
! year in Montana, and gets the atten-
ton it claims. Montana still holds
her rank among the four first states
in flax production in the United
States. Why production will be as
heavy this year in Montana (and in
dications are for an increased acre
age), is a story that will interest
the average farmer in more than one
half the counties of the state.
Flax Prices High
without doubt many will turn to
flax because of the peculiar condi-
ton that now exists with wheat.
Where there is an reproduction
nationally in wheat, there is a cor
responding under-production in flax.
Naturally the flax price is near the
level of other commodity prices,
while the wheat price is off wool
gathering in far and distant places. |
with little relationship to its proper
price place.
"The United States looks with en-
couragement upon the planting of
flax. Because less than one-fourth |
of the flax we use is produced at |
home and because the flax that we
must import comes largely from far
away Argentine, it stands to reason
that the American flax producer is at
an advantage. But congress has seen
fit to bless him even more, and has
put a good tariff on imported flax.
$50 the Montana flax farmer is
assured of three things: First, that
there never can be an over-produc-
ton of flax at home; second, that he
has the market advantage over the
South American producer; third, he
Is protected by tariff on flax. (The
duty that went into effect last fall
was 90 to 80 cents on flax; 10 cents
/ gallon on linseed oiD.
East Montana Best for Flax
"Flax is a crop that must be plant
ed right, on the right kind of seed
bed, must be handled correctly and
harvested correctly. The farmer who
does not like to farm well will not
lay up treasures with flax. But the
dirt farmer who is will
ing to cooperate with nature and
who does not waste time ordering
her about, will find attractive yields
and profits in this great cash crop
Of the northwest plains.
"The Montana experiment station
each spring urges farmers to take adj
of the opportunity that this
crop offers. There are bulletins and
circulars published by the experiment
station at Bozeman on flax seed bed
planting and harvesting.
These bulletins are free for the ask
ing. County agents in Montana can
give information to farmers who are
sit must not be supposed that all
of Montana is flax country. The
production rather naturally seems to- 7
be carried on mostly in that portion
of the state east of a line drawn
from Havre to Hardin, with few
flax areas west of the line, because
here is the new land of Montana
agriculture, and new breaking is and
always will be ideal flax land.
mot that new breaking is the only
land that will grow flax Old land
in proper condition, with the seed
bed properly prepared, will return
flax yields of fine profit Old land
is apt to be more weedy and weeds
are the best means of insuring flax
crop failure.
"There is flax seed available in
Montana for spring planting. The
type of seed for the farmers locality
Is important, and it will be wise to~