GROWING FLAX.

Otago Witness, Issue 3398, 30 April 1919, Page 8

GROWING FLAX.

There is a strong movement in the United Kingdom and in the Commonwealth to stimulate the wider cultivation of the flax crop, its products, both fibre and oil being urgently in demand. Prior to the outbreak of war the flax industry flourished in Russia, France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Holland, and Ireland, the first-named producing four-fifths of a total of 600,000 tone. All these countries must be in a bad way in respect to their normal production, and there must eventually be a great shortage of linseed, fibre, etc.~ The price for flax products should rule high for some years. In reviewing the position the Cordage Trade Journal says: "So far as flax prospects are concerned, they are anything but encouraging. We may fear that the coming year will witness prices much beyond anything we have yet seen, for the simple reason that there will not be sufficient flax to go round." A recent issue of the Irish and Scotch Linen and Jute Trades Journal contains the following:—" For some years the present high price of flax will be maintained. It may be accepted as pretty certain that remunerative prices will rule for 10 years. Stocks of linen throughout the world will have to be replenished, a task that will take years. In addition there will be a big demand' for aeroplane sheeting for commercial and other purposes." Apart from the labour question, .the crop is hot difficult to grow, and thrives on a wide range of soils, the best suited being deep medium soils in a good condition of fertility. The preparation of the land is ~f great importance. For a series of seasons the Department of Agriculture for Ireland have carried out a series of trial* as to the best method of cultivating the crop, and have issued various suggestions on the subject. The crop requires a clean seed-bed, and it may, therefore, be advisable to take it in rotation after a root crop, but excellent crops are often grown after a heavy oat crop, which leaves a clean stubble. If the soil is rich, flax may follow oats; if poor, the crop is sometimes taken after clovers. Flax may be sown by itself or with clover seeds, which, according to some authorities, do better with flax than with any other crop. As regards preparation of the soil and manuring, it may be said (says the Mark Lane Express) that a fine, clean, compact seed-bed is--required. This allows of the seed being covered to a uniform depth, and also permits uniformly rapid germination, this being very important. In order to secure this the land should be autumn ploughed to a depth of 7in or Bin. In spring, if the soil is of a heavy nature, a shallow ploughing of 3in to 4in may be necessary, but grubbing and cultivation followed by harrowing and rolling will generally give the desired result. A farmer may find, however, that owing to the peculiarity of the season, or because of economic or other conditions—e.g., sheep feeding on green crop—he is unable to sow some of his intended cereal "break" with _ spring corn. In this case if a suitable seed-bed can be obtained after the crop has been eaten off, a few acres of linseed may be sown instead. Compactness is an important feature of the ideal seed-bed, as it allows of the ascent of water from the lower, strata to the somewhat shallow root system of the crop. The soil should be worked deeply and then consolidated, especially in the drier localities, in order that it may maintain all through the growing period a sufficiency of moisture and so allow of a full development of seed. On no account must the seed-bed be loose and friable. Land must not be in too high condition, or the crop is liable to "lodge." Farmyard manure is most suitable when applied to the crops' preceding flax, especially if a good quality fire is desired. If applied directly, and this is admissible in the case of seed production, it should be well rotted. In a fresh state it causes a too luxuriant growth, which increases the possibility of "lodgingf and tends to encourage weeds, thereby increasing the cost of subsequent cleaning. Since flax hag a short period of growth and a comparatively small root system, the food material should be in an available state. Excellent results can be obtained by the judicious use of artificial manures. Potash a great factor in the successful growth of the crop, and in the absence of the usual commercial supplies the grower should give the previous crop a liberal dressing of farmyard manure, unless he is able to apply a. fair quantity of wood ashes, or if be can set a supply of Peruvian guano it could be used with advantage, as it contains an appreciable ■ percentage of potash.