FLAX AND LINSEED GROWING.

Waikato Times, Volume LVII, Issue 7006, 10 May 1906, Page 2

FLAX AND LINSEED GROWING.

A PROFITABLE CROP

As far as cm be ascertained the growing of linseed (English flax) for sead or fibre has not yet been followed out in Waikato beyond a few trial plots. This year on the 6tate farm at Ruakura 2J acres were grown, and a small stack of the products now awaits threshing operations, but until it is threshed out no returns for seed are available. The 2£ acres were divided into four plots and sown at tho rate of 60, 40, 25 and laibs per acre, with various mixtures of manure, including (a) 2cwt blood and bones, (b) 4cwt Japanese superphosphate, (c) lcwt superphosphate and 28lbs of sulphate of ammonia, (d) lcwt bones and lcwt superphosphate. The 9eed for the 101 b sowing was steeped, and although from appearances this quantity promises to give the best results, great trouble was experienced in sowing it, so that if anyone decides to give this crop a trial, it wouli be well to exercise cire in the steeping of the seed and not allow it to lie too long. A sample of the crop is now on view at the Waikato Times office, and has been favourably commented on by expert judges, who have, however, pointed out that the seed is hardly as dark in colour as it ought to be, or as heavy, which latter point would probably affect its oil producing qualities.

The want of knowledge as to its treatment has, says Mr Jos. Knight, in an interesting pamphlet issued by the Victorian Department of Agriculture on this subject, had much to do in retarding the progress of this profitable industry. Old world practices intrude themselves notwithstanding the information disseminated as to the proper oourse to pursue under the existing conditions of climate and labour, and it is somewhat surprising to see how reluctant those who are now producing it, even in a fairly large way, are to abandon old ideas. WILL FLAX-GROWING PAY ? The question is not one that can be answered without a knowledge of the conditions under which the experiments are made and the best way of answering all such queriei is by giving the results of those who are in the business, and I cannot do better than quote Messrs Wolff Brother's statement to the Victorian Department of Agriculture, which has been verified by my own observations : EXPENDITURE £ 3 d Bent per acre 1 10 0 Cultivation and seed ... 1 5 0 Harvesting (with binder) 10 0 Threshing Spreading Drying and stacking (ready for manufacture) Manufacturing 3 10 0 .£8 12 6 INCOME. I s d From 10 bushels linseed per acre 4 0 0 From scwt fibre 11 5 0 15 5 0 8 12 6 Balance, profit per acre <£6 12 6 The gross returns from the 120 acres were over 1800, exclusive of the bonus of £2 per acre for cultivating and £5 per ton on all fibre produced, which is equivalent to £1 5s pjr acre. Including the bonus, the gross returns per acre were .£lB 10s, oc a total of £2220 and net profit 17s 6d per acre or .£llßs in all. The yield of seed here given is below the average and the expenditure is on a rather high scale. This industrious family have backed up these statements by extending their operations this year (1906) and also by one of the brothers visiting the Old Country and satisfying himself as to the future prospects of this industry from au export point of view. •SOILS SUITABLE. Flax is usually looked upon as a plant requiting a damp or moist situation, but this is a mistake, as it will not thrive with excessive moisture. The plant loves a dry, warm, loose soil; when it is strong and 3tiif it must be well cultivated, so as to give the roots a free course during the early stages of growth. It matures rapidly in spring and ripens its seed before the cereals, and if not assisted by good cultivation will become stunted and valueless for fibre-making purposes, whilst probably giving a fair return of seed. Soil suitable for cereals will do equally well for a crop 0 f seed and fibre.

3 The soil must be warm, dry and fres ,s cold, wet soil should be avoided. A fre soil is specially valuable, as before sowing i- the land must be well pulverised. Gener e ally it may be said that where a good croj o of wheat can be obtained, liar will dc 0 though wheat can stand a harder seedi- bed. PREPARATION' OF SOII.S. No portion of the work pays better fo * attention than this. The soil should b i- pulverised to the full depth of the plough ing. The seed is small and requires to b kept close to the surface which is im 1 possible without proper pulverisation. s VARIETIES. The varieties grown in Victoria an 0 three in number, viz., Riga, White Hower 0 ing Belgium and Large' Red or Calcutti seed. The last named is grown for oi making purposes only, and the two forme: ft for both fibre aud oil. The Belgium ij i 3 | spring variety, maturing in a fortnight oi three weeks earlier than either Riga oi " Large Red. fts yield of fibre may not b< quite equal in quantity to Riga, but it; early maturity tends to do away with th( Q danger of injury from the boll worm, whicl pierces the seed-pod and totally destroys the seed. 1 SEED REQUIRED. When grown for seed purposes only much less is needed than if for fibre, whilst when grown for both fibre and seed it it sown close. For fibre purposes about one bushel (oGlbs), is required, whilst for seed purposes, one half to three-quarters of a bushel sutiices. The old system of sowing two and three bushels per acre is a mistake, When fibre is required, broadcast sowing either by hand or machine is best, though ) drilling may be adopted for "a seed crop. When unevenly sown ■ the produce is uneven, the stems differ in siza and a coarse appearance i<i given to the whole fibre. The , proper time for sowing uereds will generally be found to suit linseed. What should be aimed at, is to get the young plants ' thoroughly established, but not too far advanced before the winter aets in. If too forward, they are apt to throw out the i bloom cr be ome heavy and lodged. The ' crop cannot be fed ou like wheat, hence iu seasons when the rain enables the ordinary farm crops to be put in early, it would be well to leave the linseed till the last. It is not a crop that is injuriously affected by frost and no danger need Le feared from this source. Rapid growth is made in spring, but if checked for want of rain the plants become stunted and short. Linseed, like most other small seeds, fails to germinate when deeply buried. The soil should be brought to a fine tilth, the seed may then be sown on the surface and brush-harrowed or rolled in. According to experiments made, manures increase the bulk produced per acre, but do not increase the yield of fibre. CULTIVATION Little can be done with this crop in the way of weeding after it has become advanced in growth, aud where weeds such as docks, thistles, etc., show themselves they should be removed, as they not only cause inconvenience and give a lot of unnecessary labour when treating the crop for fibre making, but also affect the sample of fibre. Flax requires clean land ; in many cases new virgin soil is chosen on account of its freedom from weed:; and the plant adapts itself j well to theue condilione. HARVESTING That seed and fibre can be secured horn the same crop has been proved over and over again. To obtain the best sample of ceed, the crop should be fully ripe, and this w 11 give an excellent fibre realising £45 par ton. The plant matures its seed some- ! what unevenly. The tup seed-bolls ripen | first and open. When this stage is reached the crop should be harvested without delay aud treated similarly to oats or wheat, and it is advisable to get it in stook as soon as possible to avoid loss in seed. It will bo found that the unripe bolls fill up considerably when in the atook. 1 lie recoguiced method of harvesting is pulling the plant up by tue roots, but this is not necessary, for success is achieved by the simple method of cutting with an ordinary reaper or even with a reaper and binder. Most growers now adopt the 8} stem of cutting with a binder, and with the assistance of a man to take the sheaf from the machinery, the work is well done. A few prefer the ordinary mowing machine with reaper attachments, as they state the

host results are obtained by that means. The after operations are the same as in other crops; the sheaves are stooked until dry, when they are stacked ready for threshing. AFTER PROCESSES. Theso consist in retting, breaking and scutching. The cost of tLo necessary machinery and fittings, exclusive of the engine, is stated to be about £.lO, the plant having a capacity of about 4cwt of dressed fibre per day.