GROWING LINSEED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19453, 8 October 1926, Page 16

GROWING LINSEED.

A VALUABLE FARM CROP.

METHOD OF CULTIVATION. MANURING AND HARVESTING. BY W.S. , Linseed may be sown any time from now on. This is a most useful crop, and its high value for the seed it produces warrants its more extensive cultivation in New Zealand. The spring has been unfavourable in many districts for tho sowing of the ordinary cereal crops, and farmers in these parts are turning their attention to other crops that can be sown later in tho season, and still givo a profitable return. The extreme usefulness of linseed renders this crop one of the most useful crops to grow under such circumstances, that is to say when it is too late to sow other crops. Its usefulness, however, need scarcely bo commented upon hero as practically every stock-raiser knows the value of linseed for raising and fattening stock, and finds it especially valuable for feeding to show stock. Tho price of imported seed is so high that its general use is almost prohibitive, but if grown on tho farm on which it is to be fed, much more of this valuable article of food would bo used with advantage. Calves do especially well when boiled or steamed linseed is fed to them in their milk, especially where separator milk is fed to them, as the linseed helps to make up for the butter-fat that is removed by the separator. Linseed can be more or less successfully grown in all parts of the Dominion, therefore, farmers should grow at least enough for their own requirements. If there is a surplus this can easily bo disposed of, as there is always a good demand for a good sa,mplo of linseed, and it will nsually realise a good payablo price. A Quick Growing Crop. It can be grown successfully after a crop of turnips or other root crop, that has been fed off late in the spring, when it would bo considered too late for such crops as wheat, oats, or barley, this is claimed to bo an advantage, because tho land, though occupied by crops for late feeding, can bo utilised to produce a remunerative crop. Linseed is a very quick-growing crop once fairly started, and will mature very rapidly. It usually takes 14 to 16 weeks to inatoro from time of seeding. Linseed will thrive on most soils, except where the surface is thin and hungry. Soils of a rich, sandy loam seem to bo most suitable to its culture, though good crops are grown on stiff clay, providing the land is thoroughly pulverised with the ploughs and other pulverising implements. Fair crops can also be grown on sandy or peaty soils, provided there is an abundance of plant food in an available form, though this crop is considered to be rather an exhaustive crop on the land, it is not good practice to sow it on very sick land directly after lea, owing to its liability to lodge when on land that is in too high a state of fertility. Linseed in Rotation. Tho position in the rotation for linseed is varied. In New Zealand it is nsually put in after roots, such as a turnip crop, when as above stated tho turnip crop is not finished until late spring. It is also sometimes used as a sow-down crop, that is when the rotation commences with a cereal after lea." Followed by a catch crop to be fed Unseed should not bo sown too frequently on the same field, but should only be sown at long intervals, except on land especially suited to it, when it can bo grown at more frequent intervals. Under conditions favourable to its cultivation it is a highly remunerative crop. Tho cultivation of the land fof linseed is somewhat similar to that required for wheat, and like the latter it loves a firm seed bed; to obtain this tho land should first bo properly ploughed and afterwards thoroughly cultivated, then just previous to drilling the ground should be rolled. This, besides ducking the furrows, leaves the surface fine, which is an essential, as the seed being comparatively small, care should be taken not to covef the seed too deeply—about an inch is considered tho proper depth. A fino well divided soil is necessary to give tho seed an even covering. The Quality of Seed. In buying linseed for sowing it is of the utmost importance that tho seed should be of a high germinating capacity, so as to secure an even plant. The present high price paid for land, together with the ever increasing cost of production, makes securing seeds "of the highest possible germination and purity of the utmost importance. Many farmers aro apt to loose sight of this important item. Consequently inferior seeds are often sown with a view to keeping down expenses, this is, however, to say tho best of it, false economy, because seeds of a poor germinating capacity frequently give rise to weakplants, which either perish or do no good. The flax, or linseed crop, responds to a dressing of potash manure. Muriate of potash, at tho rate of jcwt, to £cwiper acre, is a profitable dressing in most instances. Indirect manuring usually gives better results with linseed than artificials applied direct at time of sowing the seed. The residue from tho manure applied to the proceeding crop usually gives ronumerativo returns on the linseed crop. The usual quantity of seed per acre sown is from one and a-half to two bushels. Keeping Down Weeds. If the land is inclined to be weedy the crop can be harrowed after tho plants aro a few inches high, without in any way damaging tho crop, in fact, apart from tho weed trouble, it is good practice to run the'light harrows over the crop, this makes the surface free and encourages a more vigorous growth. Tho crop is cut with a reaper and binder in tho same way as an ordinary cereal crop, and is allowed to stand in stook for a few days before being threshed or stacked. The time for cutting is determined by the colour of the 'Seed-balls, together with the colour of tho straw. It is usually ready to cut when the seed-balls are a rich yellow and if cut across the seed inside displays a firm appearance, brown in colour. Tho straw should show a decided yellow at least from the ground to about three-parts of tho way up the stem, with tho lower leaves falling off.