Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-01-01
Flax and Oats Make
Profitable Combination
FLAX, AN OLD WISCONSIN CROP
is COMING BACK AS
CASH CROP

which is coming back as cash
crop.
In a number of trials on a practi-
cal farming scale, A. III. Wright, Wis
consin College of Agriculture esti-
mates that flax paid from ten to IF
teen dollars an acre more than oats
The United States imports large
amount of flax seed every year and
as there is tariff on it, the price
has remained comparatively high.
Tow of the objections to flax
which were responsible for its los
ing favor in the past can now be
overcome, Wright points out. Wilt
which is disease injecting soil ON
which flax has been grown, was prob
ably the worst drawback. Strains
which are resistant to wilt have now
been developed and can be grown
safely. In most parts of Wisconsin it
has been so long since flax was on
the land that it is disease free and
other varieties can be used for the
first year or two.
Weeds were the other enemies,
Flax will not do well on weedy land,
On new land or that comparatively
rec from weeds, flax grown as a
pure crop pays best, Wright says. On
land which is too weedy for pure
lax, he finds that mixture of small
grain and flax can be successfully
grown and in most cases will pay
better than the small grain along.
Many farmers have found this sat-
sfactory practice. This has also been,
hown by trials by the Wisconsin Elk
,eriment Station.
Flax does best on good small grain
soil. The fertile clays and silt loans
re most suitable. 1t does not do well
n peat or marsh soils that have been
IN cultivationC In Wright's opinion
he red clay soil in the lake shore
territory is the most promising in
he state. Other sections, however,
Ire using the crop to advantage.
Flax and oats are the mixture
which Wright recommends most high
ly as oats are not usually a paying
crop Wheat and flax have. proved
beyond question that they will 60
together. Barley and flax do not u.s.
AaIiy glsa Satisfaction as the barley
natures too early for the flax. Seed
ing flax on winter wheat which has
partly winter killed is a particularly
useful practice, Wright states. 1t
gives a full crop without complete re
planting.
One advantage of the mixture is
that it required no special machinery
o handle. The crop is harvested
and threshed together and the seed is
easily separated by tanning mill
Flax alone is somewhat difficult to
harvest and thresh, but some small
grain mixed in does away with all
trouble
Flax should be seeded about as ear
ly as sowing spring wheat Flax will
not stand killing frosts as well as
grain, bnt will stand considerable
cold.
Medium late oats such as Wiscon.
sin Wonder or Swedish Select are
best in Wisconsin, according to Mr..
Wright. Marquis wheat has shown up
best in the trials. He recommends
using about two pecks (2S pounds) of
flax and two pecks (3O pounds) of
wheat to the acre for that mixture
Two pecks Of flax and four pecks
(32 pounds) of oats are the proper
proportions for them.
The mixtures may be seeded with
a common grain drill or broadcast
seeder. Mix seed before taking to the
field and plant as for either alones
The flax seed will not shake to the
bottom, but stays mixed. The seedeD
should be tried out for accurate rate
of seeding. Usdally, for the flax
wheat mixture, the gauge should be
set for about peck less than the
total amount to be sown. AS four
pecks Of mixture is the recommendeA
rate, set the gage at little more
than three pecks per acre.