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N«w York M609 USA (716) 482 - 0300 - Phon« (716) 2S6-59B9~F» DOMINION or CANADA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL FARM OTTAWA, CANADA THE FLAX PLANT rrS CULTIVATION FOR SEED AND FIBRE BT WM. SAUNDERS, C.M.O., LL.D., F.R.aa JHrtetor of AeptrinmUal Fwmu BULLETIN No. 59 JLVRtZt, >OB Published by diraotion of Um Hen. SYDNEY A. FISHER, Minwtar of Asriewltiir*. Ottavwk Ont c: : c Exp. F--irrr;5: Service Eul. OOMINION OP C^* '^OA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL FARM OTTAWA, CANADA THE FLAX PLANT ITS CULTIVATION FOR SEED AND FIBRE BT WM. SAUNDERS, C.M.O., LL.D.. F.R.S.a Dirtetor of Mxptrimental Famu BULLTCTIlSr No. 59 APRir.. lOOS PuMiahad by cliraetion of th« Hon. SYDNEY A. FISHER, Miniater of AgricuKuro, Ottawa, Ont 18«— 1 To tha Honourable The MinUtcr of Atrrii-ulture. 8m,— I hare the honour to aubmit for your approval nuHotin Xo. SV of the Experimental Farm aorica, prepared by myself. In thia bulletin the aubjtct of flax ia diacuaaed, ita cultiTaticn both for aecd and fibre, and information Riven aa to the preparation of the land and the grneral treatment of thia crop. In view of the growing importance of tlic flax crop in Canada it aeema deairable that cur farmera ahould be placed in poaaeasion of auch facta aa may be helpful to tbcm in thia brauch of agricultural induatry. I have the honour to be, Tour obedient aervant, WM. 8AITNDERS, Director Exferimental Farm$, OrxAWA, April 3, 1908. 120— 1 J FI^AX . Bt Wm. Saukdim. 0.11.0.. LLD., F.R.8.C.. F.L8. Dinetor of Sxptrir 'nlal Farwu. Tb« oultWation of fi«x and the manufacture of ito «bre date back to a »»ry nmow period. The great value of thU plant haa Wn known and .ppt«c.atr,l for proUbly fife thouiand yeart paat. The fact that the Ewptiar mumni.ei wtr- wrapped in linen, ahowa that the uae of the fibre of «•« !• very ancient. It wa» old and well eatabliahed induitry in Egjpt at the dawn of the Chri.tian era. ^ ^^n. 8000 year* ago the Phocuiciani devoted much attention to the cultivation ox plant, and •ub.equcntly the Grfck* and Romana made the working of flax fibre a i.-fi of the houiehold dutire „ , ,>.•■• Thia fibre, next to .: .ton. ia the moat valuable and univcrtally employed textile in the whole range of vegetable fibre., and the plant can be grown in nearly every part of the world where the climate ia temperate. It it cultivated to a con.iderable extent In a.oat BriUin, Ireland. Sweden. I>enmark. Holland, Belgium. France. Ru«..|. Germany. Auatria. Spain and Portugal. It U .1«) grown over a Urge •«»«"/;?'»; America, and to aome extent in portiona of South America, notably in Argwitina, where it la cultivated chiefly for iU aeed. It U .till Brown in Egypt. al.o m Algeria and Natal Japan haa entered on flax cultivation commercially, io alao have the Au.traimn coloniea. when. th«e ia aaid to be • wide range of K)il and climate favourable to ita growth. In India alao there are large area* devoted to the culfvation of the flax plant, but in that country it ia nrown chiefly for iU aeed. OULTITATION Or tAX IM AMUIM Flax wu brought to America by the early coloni.U, ». the working ct. flax fibre waa one of the earlieat colonial induatrie*. wh. h «a» juraged on every hand. Within the paat hundred yeara it ia aaid t- )mv« hr.n a prevai ing cu.tom among farmera in the Eaatem Statea to grow flax am. .) luive it retted, .eutched. hackled iadapun by member, of their hour-V .Id. A ait .r .ustom .till prevail, among »>me of the thrifty wivea and daughte.. o' ihe FreJc-h-Canadian farmer, in the rural diatricta of Quebec. THE FLAX PLANT. The flax plant of commerce received from the great botanist Linneua the name •f Lmum tuitatiuimum. From the generic name Linum the wor.U linen. Imt and linaeed are derived, while the .pecific name utiiatitttmum. which mw-i. most u^ul. WMg^ven to it in conaideration of the service it haa rendered the human family in ■nDDlyins material for clothing. . . . u. *•_ Flax i. an annual plant which grows from 20 to 40 inche. in height or .omet.me. hi«her. The .tem branche. more or leM. the number of branchea depending largely on th^ quantity of .eed wwn and the «Jative clo^sne.. of the planta. The flower when fully expanded, measure nearly an inch in diameter, and la usually of a purph.h ft Um colour, but varietieB of the plant ooour where the flowers are pink, fleah colour. or white. The plants bloom very freely, but tho flowera are very fugitive, opening but once. Early in the morning when the flax ia in flower the plot or Add will be a mass of blue bloom, but before the day is far spent the flowers will haw mostly withered and dropped. Each aeed pod or boll haa ten oella or divisiona, each of which containa a aingle seed. The aeeds are flat, oval in form, of a dark bro^rn colour, with a amooth poliabed surface. The outer portion of the aeeda contain a mueilaginoua material which dissolvea freely in hot water, while the interior is very oily. When the aeed is steeped for a time in hot water a mueilaginoua beverage ia made, known aa flax aeed tea, which ia used aa a aoothing drink in aome forms of inflammatory diseaaa The aeed is said to contain about 16 per cent of mucilage and to yield from 29 to 37 per cent of oil, which ia known in commeroe as linaeed oil and is largely used in the manufacture of painta. To obtain the oil the seed is ground and heated by steam and while hot ia aubjected to atrong hydraulic pressure, when the oil flows freely from the pressed material The cake left after the oil ia extracted is known aa oil cake, which when ground is much used as a food for cattle. The fibre ia that which givea to flax its greatest value. On cutting through a atem of this plant, the centre is found to be occupied by pith surrounding which is a layer of ordinary woody fibree, and outside of those is the inner bark which is formed of very long and remarkably tough fibres, the whole being covered by a skin or epidermis. The value of the plant depends on the abundance, length and quality of the fibre, and these characijristics can only be obtained where flax is grown in a auitable climate. The fibre of flax is very tough and is well adapted for spinning, and as compared with cotton, wool or silk is a good conductor of heat, linen clothing being proverbially cool. OROWINO FLAX FOR TTS FIBRE IN CANADA. The cultivation of flax mainly for ita fibre haa been carried on in some parts of western Ontario for many years, the yield of seed under such circumstances being a Bccondary con.oideration. To grow flax successfully for fibre, a moiat climate ia said to be necessary, and in seasons when the rainfall ia deficient the fibre produced is smaller in quantity and inferior in quality. The quantity of seed used in western Ontario when sowing flax for fibre ia aaid to be about 80 Ibe. per acre, which is aufBcient to produce a thick growth, with the plants sufficiently close to give long and atraight straw, which generally yields fibre of good quality. The seed is uaually aown in Ontario during the last week of April or early in May, commonly by a broadcast machine or otherwise by hand, and the seed is covered by a light harrowing. Where flax is grown for its fibre it is alwaya pulled in harvesting, as a longer fibre and a larger quantity can be obtained by thia method. In aome localities men are employed in pulling, while in othera the larger part of thia work is done by women and cUldren. The pulling is done before the seed capsules are quite ripe, when they are just beginning to change from a gieen to a pale brown colour. Aa the crop is pulled it ia tied in bundles or small aheavea which are placed for a time in stocks in the field, and when dry it ia drawn to the atorehousea. It is threshed by the use of a special machine which separates the seed without injuring the fibre in the straw and the atraw is •ubsequently retted and scutched and the fibre thus prepared for ma'-et RETTINO. In retting or rotting as usually practised the dried flax is placed in ponds or dams of soft water, the water being about four feet deep. The stalks are tied in bundles and packed roots downwards in the ponds or dams until they are quite full. Over the top of the upper layer ia placed a covering of straw and on thia aufficiently weighty •nbatances are laid to keep the iUx roVinerged. Fennentation soon begins with the •volution of gases and the decay of the soft vegeUble tissue sometimes proceeds quite rapidly. After a few days the fermentation subsides and usually in from ten to fourteen days the process is complete. The time required for this operation raries with the temperature, but when it is found that the fibre when handled separates readily trom the softened woody tissue, the small bundles are removed from the water and spread evenly over a grassy meadow. After being so exposed for about a fortnight advantage is taken of the first fine dry weather to gather up the fiax, which is now ready for the next operation. Various modifications of this process of retting have been proposed and put in practice, some involving the heating of the water, others the addition of various chemicals, all looking to the hastening of the process without injuring the materiaL BouTCHnra. This is the process by which the fibre is freed from the woody material still adhering to it after retting, and thus rendering it fit for the market Various machines have been devised for this purpose, driven either by water or by steam power. Th«s« scutching mills are made and run with the object of producing the largest proportioi^ of long clean fibre with the smallest amount of waste. In Bulletin 11 of the Census of 1906, covering the manufactures of Canada, the following particulars relating to the production of dressed flax in this country an given : — Number of establishments in which dressed flax is prepared 28 (22 of these are in Ontario). Value of land, buildings and plant $105,750 Working capital 115,000 Total wages paid 144,89« Value of product 241,932 From these figures it will be seen that the production of dressed fiax cannot be classed among the important industries in Canada. THK OBOWKa OF IXAZ FOR 8EKD. The growing of flax for its seed is a larger industry in this countr^. In the Census of Canada for 1900 the area under the cultivation of flax and the yields of seed in the several provinces are given for 1890 and 1900 as follows:— 1890. Number of I Nnmbar o{ buihala of Prince Kdward IsUnd Nova SootU New Brantwick Qiiebeo. OnUrio M«nitob» .••■• SMkktchewan and AlberU. British Columbia — Totali for Canaida. 76 8S 93 2,878 6,775 6,069 IBS 91 16,236 746 410 469 29,476 71,S36 M,688 1,462 364 1900. Number of aciea. Number o( buihel* ol ■eed. 67 1,881 14,404 327 1 23,066 281 58 283 19,309 67,296 81,898 3,113 4 172,242 Theae figures ihow that tiwre ww a decrease in the nuiaber of acres under flax during the ten years from 1890 to 1900 in all the eastern prorinoes and in British Columbia, whereas in Manitoba there was a considerable increase, and a slight increase in Saskatchewan and Alberta. The recent census of the Northwest provinces in 1906 showa remarkable increases in the production of flax seed in 1906 and 1906, especially in Saskatchewan; con- siderable increases also are shown in AlberU. In 1906 there was a lessened acreage of flax in Manitoba, but owing to a heavier crop that year there was an increase in the toUl quantity of flax seed harvested. In 1906 Manitoba showed an increase both in area and yield, and in the Manitoba crop report issued December 14, 1907, a further advance is shown with this crop: — 1905 Total yield (or th>i Noithweat Provinces. Divided u followa— Manitoba Saakatchewaa Alberte 1906. ToUl yield for the Northwest Provinoes. Divided M followi— Hanitohk Sukatchewsn Alberta Number of acretof Flu. 1907. From Manitoba Crop Report, Dee. 14, 1907— Manitoba The final mport on grain erope for 1907 pablished 1^ tha Govwii' ment of tfae^rovinoe of Sadutohewan, Fab. 90, 1900, givvs tha figures for 1907 as follows. «>,812 9,200 >6,tM 943 181,819 16^601 106,834 6,484 1B,9U Nnmbsr of boihels of ■eed. 606,243 110,041 486,S78 U,«23 1,818,780 237,796 1,604,814 88,170 S17,S47 12^029 1,864,710 Yield per acre. Bnsh. Lfaa. 13 37 11 95 13 64 12 33 13 79 U 80 U 83 IS 38 U 2B 10 91 The provincial report for Alberta is not yet received. Flax seed, as already stated, is chiefly used in the manufacture of linseed oil. There are three large linseed oil mills in Montreal, one at Baden, Ontario, and one at Winnipeg. The combined capacity of these mills b large and all the oil they manu- facture finds a market in the Dominion. The demand indeed exceeds the supply, and the flax seed produced in Canada has to be supplemented by large importations, and considerable quantities of linseed oil are also brought in from other countries. The oil cake left after the oil is expressed, so highly esteemed as a nourishing food for cattle, is partly used in Canada and partly exported to Great Britain. CAN THE FLAX STRAW PRODUCED IN THE NORTHWEST PROVINCES OF CANADA BE PSOTITABLT WORKED FOR ITS FIBRE? In 1896 experiments were conducted with flax at the several Dominion Experi- xnenUl Farms for the purpose of ascertaining whether flax fibre could be profitably produced in the different climates of Canada where these experimental farma are located, also to gain further information as to the quantity of seed which should be aown per acre, and the best time for sowing. A sufficient quantity of seed of the best sort obtainable — grown one year in this country after importation from Russia — ^was secured from J. Livingston, Esq., of Baden, Ontario, who was largely interested in the flax industry in Canada, being a manufacturer both of fibre and oil. Each experimental farm waa supplied with seed from this source. Instructions were sent with the seed to select enou^ land in a i good condition of tilth and •• uniform in character aa pouible, to ; Ti^a for eight Ath acre plotc. Two of tbeae plota were to be sown early in the season at each farm, and two on the same day each week following for four sowings, thus making the sowing period cover three weeks. The quantity of seed to be used at each sowing was at the rate of 40 lbs. per acre for one of the plots, and 80 lbs. per acre for the other. Directions were also given that when the flax had reached that degree of maturity when about one-third of the seed waa ripe, the flax on one half of each plot was to be pulled and tied in small bundles and when oured in the field the weight of the straw ascertained. On the other half of each plot the seed was to be allowed to ripen, and then harvested and threshed to find out the yield. Arrangements were also made for packing and forwarding a bale of 60 lbs. weight of the pulled flax from each plot to Mesars. J. & J. Livingston, of Baden, Ontario, to be retted and aoutched and the quantity and quality of the fibre in each case ascertained. These experiments in cultivation were conducted at the Central Experimental Farm at Ottawa, and at the Branch Farma at Nappan, N.S., Brandon, Man., Indian Head, Sask., and at Agassis, B.C. The instructions given were carefully carried out, and the 400 Ibe. of pulled and cured flax sent to Baden, Ont., from each farm. At the conclusion of the test the Messrs. Livingston reported that the flax grown at Nappan, Ottawa and Agassis had produced a profitable proportion of fibre of good quality, but that the samples grown at Brandon and Indian Head had given but a small yield of fibre, which was of poor quality. Their opinion was that the fibre produced from the flax grown on these two latter farms was not sufficient to pay the cost of working. i 1/ PRODUCTION or CURBD FLAX rOR FIBRE AT OTTAWA. The heaviest yield of pulled flax grown at Ottawa— 7,878 lbs. per acre— was gathered from a plot which had 80 lbs. of seed per acre, sown on May 7. The second heaviest crop was also had from a plot sown with seed at the rate of 80 lbs. per acre, sown on May 14. The pulled flax in this instance weighed 6,657 lbs. per acre. The average weight of pulled straw from the four plots sown with 80 lbs. of seed per acre was at the rate of 6,879 lbs. per acre, while the four plots sown at the rate of 40 lbs. Iter acre gave an average of 5,616 lbs. of cured flax per acre. AT NAPPAN, NOVA SOOTIA. The heaviest yield of pulled flax grown at Nappan— 8,200 lbs. per acre— was from a plot sown June 4, with 40 lbs. of seed per acre, and the second heaviest, 6,000 lbs. per acre, from one sown on May 28, with 80 lbs. per acre. The average weight of cured straw grown from the plots sown "vith 80 lbs. of seed per acre was 4,650 Ibe. per acre, whereas the four sown with 40 lbs. y^r acre gave an average of 6,350 lbs. per acre. AT BRANDON, MANITOBA. The heaviest yield of pulled flax grown at Brandon — 1,900 lbs. per acre — was from a plot aown on May 23, with 40 lbs. of seed per acre. The second heaviest, 1,270 lbs. per acre, was had from one sown June 6, with 80 lbs. of seed per acre. The average weight pulled and cured from the plots sown with 80 lbs. of seed per acre was 1,237 lbs. per acre, while the four plots sown with 40 lbs. of seed per acre gave an average crop of 1,327 lbs. per acrt?. AT IXDUk HEAD, SASKATCHEWAN. The heaviest weight of pulled flax, cured, grown at Indian Head— 4,240 lbs. per acre — was obtained from a plot sown on May 23, with 80 lbs. of seed per acre. The second heaviest, 4,120 lbs. per acre, was from a plot sown May 30, with 80 lbs. of seed per acre. The average weight of pulled flax cured from the plots sown with 80 lbs. of seed per acre was 4,030 lbs. per acre, while the four plots sown with 40 lbs. per acre produced an average crop of 3,380 Ibe. of cured flax per acre. 10 AT AOAMtz, mrnsH Columbia. The heavieit weight of pulled flax cured grown at Agaasiz — 3,400 Ibi. per acre- was produced by a plot aown on May 16, with 80 lbs. of leed per acre, the aecond heaviest, 3,280 Iba. per acre, was from a plot sown May 22, also with 80 lbs. of seed per acre. The average weight of the pulled flax curad from the four plots sown with 80 lbs. of seed per acre was 2,740 lbs., whereas the average weight of ciop obtained from the four plots sown with 40 lbs. of seed per aan was 2,490 lbs. These figures show that at Ottawa, Indian Head and Agassic the plots sown with 80 lbs. of aeed per acre gave the larger average wei^t of pulled flax per acre, while at Nappan and Brandon the advantage in weight was in favour of the plots sown with 40 lbs. of seed per acre. rUKTHKB IXPKBIMENTfl IN OROWtKO FLAX FOB SEED. As the evidence obtained in 1806 as to the small quantity and poor quality of the fibre obtainable from flax grown in the Northwest provinoes of Canada was in harmony with the general opinion of experts who had worked with similar material in like climates in the Weatem States, it was regarded as conclusive and it was not thought necessary to continue the experiments further. These were continued, how- ever, in growing flax for ita aeed for several years, using 40 and 80 lbs. of seed per acre with each of the four aowings made one week apart. In all the subsequent trials the straw was allowed to ripen then cut and threshed. BE8ULT8 OP EXPEBIMENT8 WITH FLAX OROWN FOB SEED. H I For four yewi St Ottawa, Ont. 1896 1897 1898 1902 For two years at Napuan, N.S. 1896 1899 For fonr yean at Brandon, Man. 1896 1897 1898 1900* Fot foar yean at Indian Head 1896 1897 1898 1809 For three yean at Agassiz, B. C. 189G 1899 1900 Bush. Ibe. 17 8 10 30 13 43 9 W 84 ao 21 30 17 96 14 16 28 S3 7 8 IS 13 IS 30 22 00 31 10 13 8 18 83 11 4 Ibi. 40 40 80 80 40 80 80 80 40 40 80 40 80 80 80 40 80 May 14 May 26 AprU2S April 30 June 4 May 18 Jane 6 June 3 May 28 Blay 13 May 23 May 25 Bday 28 June 9 May S3 May 19 AprU34 Bnah. Iba. 16 IB 9 26 13 U 8 40 32 40 21 30 17 8 12 48 25 00 6 44 12 48 15 10 16 00 3k 00 13 8 17 48 9 16 Ibi. 80 40 40 40 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 40 80 "8 I May 14 May 19 April 35 AprUSO May 81 June 1 May 16 Jane 9 May 38 M^ 13 May 16 May 18 May 21 May 36 May 16 May 13 May - Boih. Iba. 13 31 9 33 9 S3 8 10 34 43 16 BS 14 14 10 63 33 15 6 19 10 25 10 37 11 33 18 36 7 16 7 Buah. Iba. 13 11 7 35 13 51 7 30 35 43 19 6S 16 45 13 38 19 29 6 24 13 13 13 34 17 10 19 31 8 63 15 30 8 54 *Th« leMon of 1900 was a very onfavoarabU on* ia Manitoba, owing to severe spring frosts asd a very nnasnal drought. u Thew raiiilu Mem to indicate that when flax ia aown for ita seed only, the sowing of 40 lbs. of seed per acre docs not always produce oa hoavy a crop oa where 80 lbs. is sown. The yields of seed obtained from the four years testa at Brandon ahow an average differetyse of 23 lbs. per acre in favour of the 80 Iba. of aeed, while at Indian Head the heavier sowing has increased the crop to the extent of 2| bushels per acre. These experiments, however, were conducted on land which had been under crop fur several years, and thia may have made some difference in the results. On new breaking the general opinion drawn from experience is that 40 lbs. of seed per acre is sufficient. With regard to the best time for sowing in the Northwi>st provinces, from the middle to the end of May is usually recommendod. The seed selected for sowing should be plump, well developed, of good colour and free from the seeds of weeds. Where large fields are sown the seeding is usually done with the drill. Some further trials have been made in the growing of flax seed at the Indian Head and Brandon farms, using the following proportions of seed: — Seed ■own (ler acra. Indian Head. Yean town. AveriLKe crop. Brandoo, Average Ibj. 30 30 10 SO 60 4yT«.1901-«-8U 4yn.l901-4-6-« 5yn. 1901 2-4-5-6 2y™. 1901-6 lrr.1903 Buih. Ibi. 18 37 17 38 21 IS 14 1 16 16 Jyr.1901 lyT.1901 3yrt 1901-S Iyr.l90« lyr.l»08 lyr.1903 lyr.1908 1 yr. laoS lyr.1008 Bueh. 'At. 11 14 11 14 17 48 18 S3 28 88 70 21 4 80 20 20 90 19 S8 100 17 48 Judging from tl»e crops produced and the ijuality of the seed grown it is evident that the conditions in the Northwest provinces of Canada are favourable for the prodiictior: of flax seed. As in the tJnited States, the greatest development of this industry is in the Northwest. In that country, with its annual product varying from twenty-fivs to nearly thirty million bushels. North Dakota produces about one-half of the entire crop, while if the product of South Dakota and Minnesota be added tbe«so three states contribute more than three-fourths of tlie total production. In the United States the average yield of flax seed per acre for the five years ending 1907 was 9-6 bushels. The production of flax seed in Canada has not yet been suificient to meet the demands of the oil mills. Hence large quantities are imported from the United Statn.? and from Argentina. The quantity brought into Canada during 1906 was about 600,000 bushela. Besides this a large quantity of linseed oil is imported which could be profitably made here if the crop of home «Town seed were sufficiently large. The Canodian government has, in the interest of Canadian agriculture, imposed a duty of ten cents per bushel on flax seed, and as long as the demand so largely exceeds the supply there is a great inducement to farmers to take up the sowing of flax on a larger scale. SOa AND T.tEATHENT. A deep and well tilled soil in a good condition of fertility, but at the sa/^e time not too heavy, is well suited for flax. Indeed soil which is in fit condition to produce a good crop of grain may be successfully used for growing flax. In most flax growing countries this crop is grown as one in a regular rotation, the crops forming the rotation being so arranged as to meet the conditions of the farmer and t» bring the flax into the regular series of crops once in four or five years. A common rotation II fa the flax growinc oountiiM U nid to be oaU, rjt, wheat, clover and flax. Clorer ia regarded aa one of the beat cropa to preoede flax aa ita roota penetrate deeply into the aoil and bring up atorea of fertUitj from below which many other plaota do not reach. Clover alao aaaimilatea and atorea np nitrogen from the air, and when ploughed under fumiahea much of thia imporUnt element for the crop that ia to follow. Flax can alao be grown on the prairie aoila of the Northwest on new breaking, but usually producea a heavier crop on backaetting, or on a clean fallow. To make thia clear to thoae who are unacquainted with the methoda of prairie farming it may be aaid that the first breaking of prairie aod ia generally made by turning over a wide and ahallow furrow about two inchea thick, when thia ia dona in the spring the land ia ready for back- aetting early in the autumn, by which ia meant a aecond ploughing the furro«-8 rum ig across the breaking to a depth of about four inchea. This cuta the decayed sod, turns it over and covers it with about two inchea of freah aoil from below. In many parte of the Northweat provinces backsetting is the uaual preparation for a wheat crop. After turning the sod over where flax i« to be sown it ^ould be lightly worked with a diso harrow setting the harrow ao as to cut the earth fairly well but not ao as to tear up th« sod. The seed is then sown and the land rolled so aa to press the sod firmly in its place. Many farmers break the land deeper, from three to four inches, then disc harrow, sow and roll. Where flax is sown on new breaking a aeed bed comparatively free from weeds ia provided, which is a great advantage for a flax crop. The farmer alao derivea some revenue from this part of his land the first year and the crop effectually rots the sod so as to admit of ploughing to the ordinary depth in the autumn. A DISKASX IN rLAX. A disease known as ' flax wilt ' haa attracted considerable attention in the Norths WMtern States. This diaease ia aaid to be due to a fungoid growth. It manifeata ita presence by the wilting of the young plants as if caused by drought or intense heat. It occurs in spots in the fields, which at first are limited to three or four feet in diameter, but if the disease is unchecked these gradually increase in aice until finnlly the whole crop may be affected. Flax wilt occurs most commonly where flax haa been grown in auooessive cropa on the same land, when the land ia aaid to become flax sick. This shows the importanoe of paying attention to the rotation of this crop with others. No reports of the occurrence of ' flax wilt ' in the Canadian Northweat provinces have yet been reported to us, but it ia not likely we shall long escape thia malady unless it can be avoided by atrict attention to a proper rotation. IS FLAX A 8P1CIALLT EXHAU8TIN0 CaOPt This question is usually answered in the affirmative, but thia opinion does not appear to he warranted by the chemical analyses which have been made of this crop, showing the principal elements of fertility taken from the soil during the period of its fprowth. Tho results which have been obtained by chemical examination have furnished the following figures, which represent approximately the plant food removed from the soil by flax, wheat and oats : — An acre of flax piodunng 16 bushels of seed and 2,000 Ibe. of straw, takes from the soil — W Tor the Med, 840 lb«... ■ straw, 2,000 Ibn. ToUl .... Nitrogen. Lfae. 26 90 46 Pboephoric Acid. Lfae. 14-86 900 23 86 Potub. Lhe. 9'28 28-00 37 28 18 If we oompare thii with a crop of wheat yielding 2A htisheli of grain per Bcre and t,800 lla. of ttniw, we find that this wheat takes from the -oil— Tor the ipMn, 1.0001b*. » itnw, S,»)0 lb*. Tutal .. . NitniKco. 2.M .Vi 12 i>:i Pho«|ihorio Aci't. Lb*. 13 AM 4 (Nl 40 &3 17 64 Potanh. Urn. » M 80 67 W 11 If we compare the fifuree given of the analyses of flnx with thoac of a crop of oats of SO bushels to the acre with 8,200 lbs. of straw, we find that there is taken from the soil by the oat crop — For the fp-ain, 1,700 lb*. H tUAW, 2,200 lb*. ToUl Nitioften. Lb*. 32 18 13 90 I'huaphurio AcHl. LIk. 10 48 4 74 46 03 IS 23 PoUah Lb*. 24 tU 32 88 Tho larger part of the straw of all these crops grown in the Northwest is usually burnt, when the mineral ingredients taken from the land are returned to it in the form of ashes. In the east, where the straw is utilized chiefly for bidding animals, the mineral constituents taken up are returned to the soil with the manure, hence the seed only need be considered. It will be seen that the grain, in the cuse of the wheat crop, takes up a little more nitrogen and somewhat lees of pli< splioric acid and potash than is taken by the flax seed; while the oat crop takes for the grain a larger propor- tion of nitrogen, nearly one-third less of phosphoric acid and about one-eighth less of potash. The difference, however, in exhaustive effect of these several crops on a rich soil would scarcely be perceptible, and would not justify tho opinion that flax is a very exhausting crop. In some experiments tried at the Experimental Farm at Brandon, Man., during the year 1895, in sowing wheat, oats and barley after flax, the results obtained point to the same conclusion. THE niPROVEMEST OF FLAX BY SELECTION. At the Central Experimental Farm the tests of different varieties of flax have been found unsatisfactory owing to the mixed character of the different kinds. The Gerealist is now engaged in propagating a number of selected strains so as to obtain varieties which shall be really distinct and homogeneous. Some of the new selectiona will, it is expected, he an improvement on the original mixtures from which they were obtained. Ottawa, March, 1908.