Year: 1862

The Cultivation OF Flax Seed.
From Prize Essay. BY w. J. CoLnAH, publish


ed in st. Louis, March, 1862.


The cultivation of Flax Seed Is as simple al
! that of any crop We have It requires no NOR,
labor to raise and harvest q crop OF it than i
does to raise and harvest q crop of oats OF
wheat, and it Is less e1hausting to the soil than
crop of wheat II is generally thought that
fsx seed should he sown on moist rich land
such as creek and river bottoms This opinion
prevails, because the straw of fax grows mote
luxariantly on such lapds. When fax is sown
for the fibre, it should be sown on moist rich
land, but the seed is always inferior The best
seed, J, e. richest in oily matter, is produced
upon rather dry, rolling, and only moderately
fertile soil. The stalks are shorter, branch
more, and the bolls fill better. When fax is
cultivated for the fibre or the fibre and seed, the
seed will always be inferior in quality to that
| sown exclusively for the seed on dryer land, and
when not sown 80 thick as it must be when the
fibre is made an object.


better quality of seed is also obtained in
dry season than wet one, the seed containing





grow SO rank, and the bolls gil with larger,
richer seed


sEKD FOR SOWING. a5 t5-E


Like begets like" no more surely in the ami
NAL than vegetable world-therefore the very
best quality of seed should be obtained. As
fax seed is commonly raised it ia better to sow
small piece, especially for the seed to be used
sowing For this purpose the seed must be
sown very .hiniy over the surface--not to ex.
ceed peck to the acre. Each stalk viii! then
grow vigorously, branching to the ground, and
the bolls will fll with large plump seed All
foul seed should be scrupulously separated from
the fax seed before sowing The price of fax
seed is materially lesssned when it contains
seeds OF mustard, rape, cookie, &c. If these
cannot be separated in any other way they must
be by fax riddle. 1t is bad economy to SOW
seed from fax raised for the fibre The stalks are
long, spindlng and light colored, and it is i'm
possible for such stalks to produce a large
plump berry.


QUANTITY OF SEED PER ACRE.


Farmers differ very much in the quantity of
seed they apply to the acre, some sowing only
peck, others as much as two bushels If the
soil is put in fine condition, and the seed ia
sown evenly, one peck per acre is sufficient
Where seed is the chief object, not over half
hushel in any case should be sown., By thin


NO stock will be stronger and throw out |
's''ouo oa"e"--- which will produce large |
6ols filled with plump gv- saoa n,.;.;.
very large per cent of oil. By tRiea 10
the plants are less strong branch but little, the
sun can strike only the top of the plants, and
the seeds will be smaller, lighter, and will not
contain within fifteen or twenty per cent the
amount of oil that seed will when raised by thin
sowing.


WEDDING.


Pure seed being very important, it is highly |
necessary to 60 into tbe field and pull out all |
weeds that show themselves. The wild mustard |
and other weeds are very easily distinguished |
when in bloom. With little labor at the pro. |
per time all weeds may be taken out, and the I
seed left clean and pure.


CLEANING THE sRED.
Being chiefly used for the manufacture of oil
purchasers are particularly anxious to obtain |
pure plump glossy seed Dirt, dust, foul seed,
or any extraneous matter detract from its value.
1t is therefore important to take particular pains
in cleaning it and preparing it for market A
prime article of fax seed is always eagerly sought
and apoor article will not be bought if sup.
ply of prime seed can be obtained