THE CULTURE OF LINSEED, OR EUROPEAN FLAX.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2194, 31 July 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE CULTURE OF LINSEED, OR EUROPEAN FLAX.

[Canterbury Press.] In referring to linseed as a desirable and remunerative crop for the farmer, it is ofte.u misunderstood to apply to the seed only, which in reality, barely represents half the return. The straw or stem is convertible into the best ropes, twines, engine packing, and with the requisite machinery, into sacks, wool bales, sail oloth, also almost every description of linen fabric. The seed, where produced in sufficient quantity, ia also very valuable, although up to the present, from want of the necessary appliances, it has not yet been turned to its best account. In a country where so many of tho buildings are of wood, th^ manufacture of linseed oil has come to bo an important industry, to say nothing of tho production of oilcake, etc., for fattening stock. Practical men will readily recognise tho importance of fostering local productions of all kinds, and now that nrilli for the utilising of flax have beon successfully established, there oan bo little doubt that Unseed will form an important factor in a farmer's series of crops. From the want of proper knowledge of the subject, and alao of capital, great difficulty was at first expirenced in firmly establishing any company for the manufacture of linseed and its products. l\vo or thrte successive failures effectually damped tho ardour of cren the most sanguine promoters, and for some years the cultivation of linseed has been almost entirely neglected. Now, however, the successful operations of the Temuka Linseed Company have attracted general attention in Canterbury. This company, whioh for some time had a struggling existence, has now mastered every obstacle, aud by means of the best machinery is able to turn out ropes of superior quality, twine of various kinds, and wiil eventually proceed to the manufacture of oils, etc. Employment is given at the works to a considerable number of hands, and it is a gratifying fact that the manufactures of the company can .successfully compete both in quality and price with the best imported goods. The only difficulty experienced by the company at present is in procuring a sufficient supply of the raw material, and as the industry is one that must commend itself largely to the majority of agriculturists, a few remarks as to the best method of cultivating flax mny be acceptable. „ With the exception of the light, fhinjrly soil there is little of our land that will not grow a fair crop of flax. As in all other cases we are dependent on the seasons for more or less success, but a great deal depends on the farmer in selecting" and properly working his hand, taking into consideration the proper season, obtaining none but the best seed, aud drilliujr the same at a suitable and even depth. Owing to the past want of any legitimate system of agriculture our land it. generally stocked with a great variety of noxious weeds, which greatly deteriorate the valuo of a crop of flax as regards seed aud fibre. Where a - farmer has not been growing" crops Avhich have been hoed and cle.iued from such weeds, or systematically fallowing a portion of his tillage land, the best and safest laud he can select is lea, which should bo ploughed with a deep furrow closely packed, as early in winter as convenient, to srivo it the benefit of frost. As soon as sufficiently dry (about tho second week in August) this should be harrowed into a fine friable bed, rolled into a. smooth surface, and drilled from a quarter to a third of an inch in depth to be followed by tho roller whioh is the only covering" necessary. Under favourable circumstances this seed will show in double leaf in from oO to 00 hours. Tho above remarks also apply to stubble or root land when suffiontly clean : and if it is desired to lay down the land to grass a crop of flax will be found a capital nurser) r for clover and grass seeds. These should bo sown soon after tho drill, and covered with the roller. Thoie o,re in use iv South Canterbury, and at present in no other district, a few drills specially adapted for linseed. These are of a very substantial English make, suited for »\l clashes of .seeds and corn— from tho turnip to the bean, and the makers have patented a double-shoe or point to tho coulter, which can be substituted for the single or ordinary point, and converts the six; or seven inch corn drill into two or three or three and a half inches in width thus distributing the seed more equally over the surface »t the required depth. Further remarks relative to the growth, harvesting, &c, of the flux crop will be more suitable iv two or three menths time.