The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-01-04
GREATER ACREAGE
Of FLAX URGED ON
NORTHWEST FARMS
increased Production Needed
to Retain Crushing Indus.
try in This Area
ONLY HALF ENOUGH RAISED
Agricultural Colleges OF Four
States Unite With Manu-.
facturers in Drive

Minneapolis, Jan. 4.-tP-Agrlcul-
tural colleges Of four states. railroads.
business and financial groups joined,
today, in launching q campaign lor
increased production Of flax IN the
Northwest, next spring.
Describing flax as "the best paying
crop raised in this territory" n va
rious groups united in forming a
committee to sponsor the o look-
Ing to increased production.
On the committee arc F. G. Smith,
secretary of the Minnesota Linsecd
OIL company. chairman; Dean w. =.
Coffey, head Of the Minnesota Agri-
cultural college: E. C. Leedy. agrlcui-
tural development agent OF the Great
Northern railway: M. o. Grangaard.
vice president Of the First National
bank: and c. C.. Weber. president o.
Deere and Weber company.
will Issue Booklet on 1t
A meeting at the Minneapolis club,
knonsored by Mr.. Webbcr. brought
the creation of the committee with
plans for a pamphlet to be prepared
hy the agricultural colleges n DIS
tributed by the committee. Men at
tending the meeting were told ttiat:
Greater flax production is import
ant. because the country has pro-
duced less than half OF u annual
consumption for many years.
Acreage should be increased ano
efforts made to improve growing con-
ditions and methods, SO as to increase
yields.
Tn 1927 the four Northwest states
had 1.O70. 900 acres in flax. producing
7.732.O0O bushels. In 1924. after =
campaicn. the acreage went to 3.l97,'
nO0 acres with a production OF 29.4o'.
COO bushels. 1t has dropped OH Since
however, and this year vas onl' D
ner cent of the 1924 total.
The crop is vital both to the man
ufacturing industries Of the countr'
and to the farmer.
II needs proper method OF plsntln'
and handling to insure best results.
BolIey Reviews Acrcages
n. L. Bolley. botanist and plan
pathologist of the North Dakota hg
ricultural college. furnished figure
on acreage and production OF liza
an the four states of Minnesot;
North and South Dakota and MOI
tana. Starting with an acreage {
q : 600 acres in 1921, the crop az
veloped to 3.1a7, 900 acres in 1924. D.
drnnped back to 2.916.000 acres J
- 1nSp, when 1929. 900 bushels wei
produced. ,.. ,,o,
as high as 81 10000 in 1926. n IN ~.
was down to 523 900 acres. Mort
nakota's acreage in flax has RENAME
more constant. being 1.463.OOO acf'
in 1929 with the second largest pfe
auction in history. 6.876,O0O busne'
Montana has had many ups al
downs in its production. reaching
high mark of 293 900 acres IN -:
hut with lower production. Sou
Dakota had its biggest acreage
1929. but with a smaller proouc.e
than in banner years.
IF the crop cannot be held 10
higher production per acre" 0
said. Through improved methods
that It will pay U Northwest iarn
ers. then 1t is evident that our ia
crushing plants must be moved To u
eeaboard."
Rixht Planting Is Key
Education must be pushed. ne sa
10 insure planting at the right TIN
under proper soil conditions n tn
taken care OF. IL.
Mr.. Smith, who was made charms
If the committee, called flax "ui
formly the best cash-paying crop
this territory He pointed out tt
This country uses 10000 900 ousne!
YEAR but raises only about hall OF
He proposed an increase OF 10 10
Der cent in acreage and major clio
on a campaign for better methods
increase the yield per acre.
Dean Coffey pledged support to
movement as a valuable aid TO Nor
vest agriculture. John r. Mitch
FEDERAL reserve agent at the Fede
reserve bank at Minneapolis. n
w. Daniels. chairman Of the board
fhe Archer : Daniels Midland CO
many. were other speakers. all agr
ing the campaign should be pusl
FOR greater production.