| OCR Text |
Show Flav as a Farm Crop. As reported by tho division of statistics of the department of agriculture a special investigation was undertaken for the purpose of ascertaining Jhe production of flaxseed. This shows that there has been a large increase in the area devoted to this crop during the" last two years, the increment being entirely west of the Mississippi river, and mainly confined to tho tates of Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and tiie Dakotas. The acreage for 1W1 is estimated at 1,927,293 acres, and the product of seed 15,455,273 bushels. Tho enlargement i3 in those districts having the larger proportion of new lands. Flax has been found the best I crop for first cultivation on sod land, assisting in getting the soil into good tilth for other crops, besides being a money crop. Another potent reason for the heavy enlargement during the past two years is the fact that there has been a steady demand for flaxseed at prices which have paid for its cultivation better bet-ter than the returns from wheat growing. grow-ing. An. increased acreage based upon such reasons cannot be permanent, and already, with lower offerings on the farm for the seed, there are indications that some portion of the area will be abandoned next year. Under present conditions the crop is grown almost entirely for the seed, tho fiber not being made use of to any great extent. As many coirespondents declare de-clare flax growing for the seed alone does not pay except as a first crop the future of the industry depends upon the utilization of the liber as well as of the seed. There are indications in some sections sec-tions of the northwest, especially m Minnesota, of popular interest in the question of establishing a fiber industry, and this interest has been a factor in the increase in the area given to flax in that state.. |
