From a Prize Essay, by W. B. Colman, published in St. Louis, March 1862
The cultivation of Flax Seed is as simple as that of any crop we have. It requires no more labor to raise and harvest a crop of it than it does to raise and harvest a crop of oats or wheat, and it is less exhausting to the soil than a crop of wheat. It is generally thought that flax seed should be sown on moist rich land, such as creek and river bottoms. This opinion prevails, because the straw of flax grows more luxuriantly on such lands. When flax is sown for the fibre, it should be sown on moist rich land, but the seed is always inferior. The best seed, i.e. richest in oily matter, is produced upon rather dry, rolling, and only moderately fertile soil. The stalks are shorter, branch more, and the bolls fill better. When flax is cultivated for the fibre or the fibre and seed, the seed will always be inferior in quality to that sown exclusively for the seed on dryer land, and when not sown so thick as it must be when the fiber is made an object.
A better quality of seed is also obtained in a dry season than a wet one, the seed containing a larger per cent of oil. The straw does not grow so rank, and the bolls fill with larger richer seed.
SEED FOR SOWING.
“Like begets like” no more surely in the animal than vegetable world – therefore the very best quality of seed should be obtained. As flax seed is commonly raised it is better to sow a small piece, especially for the seed to by used [in] sowing For this purpose the seed must be sown very thinly over the surface – not to exceed a peck to the acre. Each stalk will then grow vigorously, branching to the ground, and the bolls will fill with large plump seed. All foul seed should be scrupulously separated from the flax seed before sowing. The price of flax seed is materially lessened when it contains seeds of mustard, rape, cockle, &c. If these cannot be separated in any other way they must be by a flax riddle. It is bad economy to sow seed from flax raised for the fibre. The stalks are long, spindling, and light colored, and it is impossible for such stalks to produce a large plump berry.
QUANTITY OF SEED PER ACRE.
Farmers differ very much in the quantity of seed they apply to the acre, some sowing only a peck, others as much as two bushels. If the soil is put in fine condition, and the seed is sown evenly, one peck per acre is sufficient. – Where seed is the chief object, not over half a bushel in any case should be sown. By thin sowing the stock will be stronger and throw out vigorous branches, which will produce large bolls filled with plump glossy seed, containing a very large per cent of oil. By thick seeding the plants are less strong, branch but little, the sun can strike only the top of the plants, and the seeds will be smaller, lighter, and will not contain within fifteen or twenty percent the amount of oil that seed will when raised by thin sowing.
WEEDING.
Pure seed being very important, it is highly necessary to go into the field and pull out all weeds that show themselves. The wild mustard and other weeds are very easily distinguished when in bloom. With a little labor at the proper time all weeds may be taken out and the seed left clean and pure.
CLEANING THE SEED.
Being chiefly used for the manufacture of oil purchasers are particularly anxious to obtain pure plump glossy seed. Dirt, Dust, foul seed, or any extraneous matter will distract from its value. It is therefore important to take particular pains in cleaning it and preparing it for market. A prime article for flax seed is always eagerly sought and a poor article will not be bought if a supply of prime seed can be obtained.
– Published in the Burlington Daily Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Wednesday, April 9, 1862 & in the Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 12, 1862
The cultivation of Flax Seed is as simple as that of any crop we have. It requires no more labor to raise and harvest a crop of it than it does to raise and harvest a crop of oats or wheat, and it is less exhausting to the soil than a crop of wheat. It is generally thought that flax seed should be sown on moist rich land, such as creek and river bottoms. This opinion prevails, because the straw of flax grows more luxuriantly on such lands. When flax is sown for the fibre, it should be sown on moist rich land, but the seed is always inferior. The best seed, i.e. richest in oily matter, is produced upon rather dry, rolling, and only moderately fertile soil. The stalks are shorter, branch more, and the bolls fill better. When flax is cultivated for the fibre or the fibre and seed, the seed will always be inferior in quality to that sown exclusively for the seed on dryer land, and when not sown so thick as it must be when the fiber is made an object.
A better quality of seed is also obtained in a dry season than a wet one, the seed containing a larger per cent of oil. The straw does not grow so rank, and the bolls fill with larger richer seed.
SEED FOR SOWING.
“Like begets like” no more surely in the animal than vegetable world – therefore the very best quality of seed should be obtained. As flax seed is commonly raised it is better to sow a small piece, especially for the seed to by used [in] sowing For this purpose the seed must be sown very thinly over the surface – not to exceed a peck to the acre. Each stalk will then grow vigorously, branching to the ground, and the bolls will fill with large plump seed. All foul seed should be scrupulously separated from the flax seed before sowing. The price of flax seed is materially lessened when it contains seeds of mustard, rape, cockle, &c. If these cannot be separated in any other way they must be by a flax riddle. It is bad economy to sow seed from flax raised for the fibre. The stalks are long, spindling, and light colored, and it is impossible for such stalks to produce a large plump berry.
QUANTITY OF SEED PER ACRE.
Farmers differ very much in the quantity of seed they apply to the acre, some sowing only a peck, others as much as two bushels. If the soil is put in fine condition, and the seed is sown evenly, one peck per acre is sufficient. – Where seed is the chief object, not over half a bushel in any case should be sown. By thin sowing the stock will be stronger and throw out vigorous branches, which will produce large bolls filled with plump glossy seed, containing a very large per cent of oil. By thick seeding the plants are less strong, branch but little, the sun can strike only the top of the plants, and the seeds will be smaller, lighter, and will not contain within fifteen or twenty percent the amount of oil that seed will when raised by thin sowing.
WEEDING.
Pure seed being very important, it is highly necessary to go into the field and pull out all weeds that show themselves. The wild mustard and other weeds are very easily distinguished when in bloom. With a little labor at the proper time all weeds may be taken out and the seed left clean and pure.
CLEANING THE SEED.
Being chiefly used for the manufacture of oil purchasers are particularly anxious to obtain pure plump glossy seed. Dirt, Dust, foul seed, or any extraneous matter will distract from its value. It is therefore important to take particular pains in cleaning it and preparing it for market. A prime article for flax seed is always eagerly sought and a poor article will not be bought if a supply of prime seed can be obtained.
– Published in the Burlington Daily Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Wednesday, April 9, 1862 & in the Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 12, 1862
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