CiHM Microfiche Series (IMonograplis) ICIMH Collection de microfiches (monographies) Canadian Institute for Historical Microraproductions / Institut Canadian da microraproducHons historiquas Technical and Bibiiographic Notes / Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographlcally unique, which may alter any of the Images In the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming are checirad below. □ Coloured covers / Couverture de couieur D D D D D D D D D Covers damaged / Couverture endommagde Covers restored and/or laminated / Couverture restaurde et/ou pellicula Cover title missing / Le titre de couverture manque Coloured maps / Cartes g^raphiques en couieur Coloured inl< (i.e. other than blue or biacit) / Encre de couieur (i.e. autre que bleue p'j noire) Coloured plates and/or Illustrations / Planches et/ou illustrations en couieur Bound with other material / Reiid avec d'autres documents Only edition available / Seule Mition disponlble Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along Interior margin / La reliure sen'te peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distorsion ie long de la marge int^rieure. Blanic leaves added during restorations may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming / Use peut que certaines pages blanches ajout^es lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans ie texte, mais, lorsque cela 6talt possible, ces pages n'ont pas 6\6 fiimdes. Additional comments / Commentaires suppl^mentaires: L'Institut a microfilm^ ie meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a M possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exem- plaire qui sont peut-dtre uniques du point de vue bibll- ographique, qui peuvent oKXlifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une nrKKlificatlon dans la metho- ds nonnale de fllmage sont indlqute ci-dessous. I I Coloured pages/ Pages de couieur I I Pages damaged / Pages endommag^es D Pages restored and/or laminated / Pages restaurtes et/ou pellicul^s Pages discoloured, stained or foxed / Pages dteolortes, tachetdes ou piques I I Pages detached / Pages ddtach^es I /] Showthrough/ Transparence I I Quality of print varies / D D n Quality inhale de I'lmpression Includes supplementary material / Comprend du materiel suppl6mentaire Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the t>est possible Image / Les pages totaiement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'enBta, une pelure, etc., ont 6\6 fitmtes k nouveau de fa^on k obtenir la meilleure image possible. Opposing pages with varying colouration or discolourations are filmed twice to ensure the best possible image / Les pages s'opposant ayant des colorations variables ou des decolorations sont fiimtes deux fols afin d'obtenir la meilleure image possible. ThtoRwnis C# oooumwit ■t tha rK*iielion ratio elMelnd balow / fflmA mi tmix d* rMuetion ind^u* cMmmnm. lOx 14x lax 22x 26x aox J 1 lai Ita 20x a4x 2tx 32x Th« copy filmed h«r« Hm t—n raproducad thanks to tha ganarosity of: Natiozutl Library of Canada Tha imagas appaaring hara ara tha bast quality pessibia censidaring tha condition and lagibility of tha original copy and in kaaping with tha filming contract spacifications. Original copias in printed papar covars ara fllmad beginning with tha front cover and ending on the laat page with a printed or illustrated impree- sion. or the beck cover when eppropriata. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first pege with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the lest pege with e printed or illustreted impression. The lest recorded frame on eech microfiche shell contain tha symbol -^ (meening "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol ▼ (meening "END"). whichever applies. Mops, plates, charu, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included In one exposure ere filmed beginning in the upper left hend corner, left to right and top to bonom, as many frames es required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: 1 2 3 1 2 4 5 L'txamplair* film4 fut rsproduit gric* k la 04n«ro«it4 d«: Blblloth^qu« natlonale du Canada Las imagaa suivantat ont it* raproduitas avac la plus grand toin. compta tanu da la condition at da la nanati da raxamplaira film*, at mn eonformiti avac laa conditions du contrat da fllmaga. Laa axamplairoa originaux dont la couvartura an papiar aat Imprimia sont filmis an commandant par la pramiar plat at an tarminant soit par la darniira paga qui comporta una amprainta d'imprasaion ou d'illusuation, soit par la sacond plat, salon la caa. Toua laa autras axamplairas originaux sont filmis an common9ant par la pramiira paga qui comporta uita amprainta d'Impraasion ou d'lilustration at an tarminant par la darniira paga qui comporta una talia amprainta. Un das symbolaa suivants apparaltra sur la darniira imaga da chaqua microfiche, salon la cas: la symbola -^ signifia "A SUIVRE". la symbola ▼ signifia "FIN". Laa cartaa. plancfias, tablaaux. ate. pauvant atra filmis * das taux da reduction diff*rants. Lorsqua la documant ast trap grand pour *tra raproduit an un saul clich*. il ast film* A partir da I'angla supiriaur gaucha, da gaucha * droita. at da haut an baa. an pranant la nombra d'imagaa nicaaaaira. Laa diagrammas suivants illustrant la mithoda. 2 3 5 6 »«CIOCO« nSOWTION TBT CHART (ANSI ond ISO TEST CHART No. 2) APPLIED M/V3E 1653 Eott Main Strevl Ri ■. This being so, the western part of British Columbia, southwestern Ontario, the \alley of the St. Lawrence and the Afaritime Provinces may be expected to produce the best flax. Soil. — A soil that is suited for the growth of cereals and other farm crops may be expected to give similar results when sown with flax. Where choice is possible a sandy loam is to be preferred. As uniformity in all characters is the most important point in connection with the production of flax fibre, it is advisable to choose a field that is as level as possible and has a uniform type of soil so that the moisture-holding capacity will be similar throughout. Botation.— Flax should not be sown on the same land oftener tlian once in five to seven years. Its exact place in the rotation varies, but the common prnetice is to .sow after wheat or some other cereal, or on land that lius been in sod. Minnrei. — Stable manure should not be applied to a crop of flax. It is much better to manure heavily some previous crop in the rotation. The most important artificial fertilizer for flax is potash. As this is not available at present it may be possible to apply wood ashes, or in districts near the sea to apply seaweed to .-..nie previous crop. DOMINIOir EXPERIMEITTAL FARMS. J. H. QRI80ALE, B.Agr., Director. H. T. GUSSOW, Dominion Botanist. 95018—1 EXHISniON CIBCUIAB No. 77. (AprlT, 191«.) 1 PDNi ' Prepwfttion of the land.— It is very iniinirtant that the land should be reduced to a fine state of tilth. It ghould be ploughed to a moderate depth in autumn and worked in aprin* to pulverize it thoroughly. Onlj* land that is free from weed-, should be gown with flax. Any weeding after the seed germinates must be done by h-- .d and must be done with great care to avoid injury to the young plants. The land ' >jme. times rolled before sowing the seed, as it is held by mmc farmers that this practice facilitutes the covering of the s-cwl to a more uniform depth and makes the seed-bed more ('c>iii|iact. Seed.— VariouH varictii-s of flax are grown, some being blue-flowered, others white- flowcn-d. Bluc-floworod flux is considered to give u slightly better quality of fibre. The seed used should he that of a tibre-produciiig flax iind not that of a flax grown solely for oil. If jiossiblp. Hussiun or Dutch s.H'd ..hould be obtained or else the produce of such seed grown in Canada. Flax seed often contains immature seeds and weed seeds, and it is very desirable that these should l>e got rid of by r.'^.rceiiing and recleaning. It is usually imprac- ticable to do much wc<'ding among a growing flax crop, and weeds are a great nuisancn at harvesting time. Diiinfection of Seed.— Flax is subject to several diseases which may be carried by infected si-ed. Before sowing, the seed should be treated as follows:' Spread the seed on a clean floor or canvas in a thin layer. Tse one ounce of formalin to ten quarts of water and apply two quarts of the mixture to each bushel of seed by means 6{ a knapsack sprayer. Mix the flax seeds thoroughly until each seed is covered with the solution. Continue stirring the seeds until they are dry. Amount to Sow.— Flax should always be tested for germination before sowing, otherwise it is impossible to tell what amount of seed to use. If the seed gives after three days a germination of 95 per cont or over, IJ bushels of seed will suffice. With n germination of 85 to 95 per cent, 1(J bushels ixr acre should be sown, and if the germination falls between 75 and 85 per ecu., 2 bushels of seed will be necessary. About 56 pounds are reckoned to the bushel. Time to Sow.— The best time to sow will depend on the character of the season which, however, ca: aot be foreseen. It will conse and will Dtuiid alone. After rain it will .Ir.v much mare .|iiiekl.v than in the stook. Any «hort pntchr« of fli-x should be pulled separately and kept ^epMrate fr..ni the re«t of tiie .-rop through th*' various »tattv'- An average worker will pull an aere in four day,. At present, experrmonts arc bein,- eoudueted with itiaehines for pulling flax but more thorough testing will be neoe^sary. before any of tlieni can l>e reeomnifnd«'c done during the winter nmnths when other work is sladc. The seeds can \a' rcniov(>d by crushing the cajisuics Utween rollers, care being taken not to injure the seeds or the stalks. An alternative method is "rippling" which consists in pulling hnndfuls of flax over and between iron teeth placed close enough to pull off the capsules which can be crushed afterwards by a wooden mallet. The deseeded flax straw should then be tied up again in uniform, rather loose bundles of the same size as before, the band being in the same position! The flax should be kept drj- urtil early summer when it is retted. If flax is rippled a few days after pulling it can Ik- retted the same season. The rippled capsules shouM in that case be spread on a clean floor and turned frequently until quite dry. Retting. — The object of retting is to bring the flax into such a condition that the fibre may be easily separated from the worthless woody portion or " shove."' There are two methods of rettiiig in common use. dew-retting and water-retting. In the former, the flax is spread in a thiii layer on the surface of the grass and tnmeforo the flax is taken out. It should be situated near a small stream, the water of which can be diverted to fill the dam.' Beginning at one end of the dam the flax bundles are placed nearly erect with the root-ends downwards, but should not be pressed too closely together. All the flax in any one pond should be put into it on the same day. When the flax bundles have been put into the pond, stones of moderate size arc' placed on toi) as the bundles are liable to rise after fermentation begins. The water should then be turned on and allowed to flow until the flax is well covered aft^r which no water should be allowed to flow through unless leakage has occurred. If the flax rises above the water during the process of retting it should be pushed down with a fork and more stones added. Water containing lime is not suitable for retting. In this case, the dam may be filled beforehand with rain water provided that it has been constructed at the bottom of a slope. It will be more troublesome to put the flax into the dam if it is already full of water. The same pond can be used any number of times if the water is changed after each operation. The best temperature for retting is 72° F., but flax ■PPIfW T oan b« rett«d Bt a lower toinpentura, • longer period beinc required in Ukit cue. After the flex ha* been in the water for five day« it ohould be examined once or twice daily to lee if the right ttage ha* been reacLed. If the flax item wlien bent breaki acroHt sharply and the outer flbre can be readily peeled off dean from the central woody core it ia sufficiently retted. The test should be made about half way up the stem. When it i» being taken out of the dam any adhering mud should be waHhed off. \fter removal from the dam it is M>t up on end to drain, after which it is spread on the Kfass to dry. It is jiottitihle in suitable weather to dry it without sprfadiug by uiieniiiR out the bundles partly and inrlining them against a fence or low wooden rail. Whoii quite dry it should bo carefully stacked or housed. Scntching. — Thi« is the term applied to the separation of tlie tibre from the woody eore. The machinery re'"<-k." The former consist* of grooved rollers between which the flax straw is pasucd and the hard woody core it crushed and broken into short lengths. The latter consists of a revolving wheel with wooden or iron blades which beat out the woody " slioves '' from a handful of broken flax when held against them. A small oil engine is the most convenient source of power, but electric or water power, if obtainable, will do equally well. Scutching is generally carried on during the winter months and should only be done by an experienced workman. Yield. — About two tons of dried flax straw with the seed on -re considered an aTerage yield p"" acre. The average yield of flax seed per acre for the whole of Canada for the Ave years from 1911 to 1916 was Hi bushels, while the average yield in the province of Ontario where the crop was grown primarily for fibre was for the same period 16} bushels per acre. With proper attention an average yield of 460 pounds of scutched flbre per acre should be obtained. Prices. — The price of flaxseed at Winnipeg during Novr-^ber, 1916, ranged from $1.62) to $1.89 per burhel. The price of flax fibre is at present the highest on record. In January, 1915. the price at Belfast, Ireland, ranged from $434 to $607) * per ton for Dutch flax and was $360 per ton for Russian flax. The prices since that date have gone still higher. General Coniidentioni. — A farmer who has never grown flax for fibre should not attempt more than 1 to 2 acres at first. Probably not more than one-tenth, at most, of the cultivated area of the farm should be devoted to flax in any one year. It is a crop that requires very carefv.l attention and three acres well handled may produce a greater profit than five acres damaged by weather or over-rettiii-». At what stage a farmer can most profitably diepose of his crop must bn largely determined by circumstances. If the members of his own family can assist, and a considerable part of the work can be done during the slack winter months his profit will obviously be the greater. All the work except scutching can be done on the farm. It should be possible for a number of farmers to co-operate in the erection of a scutching mill at some central point. Fuller information on this subject will be found in an illustrated bulletin to be published shortly. Published by authority of Hon. MARTIN BURRELL, MInlatsr ef Agrieultur*, Ottawa, Ont.