Show ria flax as a a farm crop As reported by tho the division of statistics of tho the department of agriculture a special investigation was undertaken for the purpose of ascertaining tho the production of flaxseed this shows that there lias has been a large increase in the area devoted to this crop during the last two years tho increment being entirely west of the mississippi river and mainly confined to the states of minnesota iowa kansas nebraska and the dakotas tho the acreage for 1891 is estimated at acres and the product of seed bushels the enlargement is in tho those so districts having the larger proportion of now lands flax lias has been found the best crop for first cultivation on sod land assisting in ili getting the soil into good for other crops besides being a money crop another potent reason foi 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 than the returns from wheat growing 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 the fiber not being mado made use of to any groat great extent As 1 many any coi respondents declare 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 fiber as well as of tho the seed there are indications in some sections of the northwest especially in minnesota of popular interest in ili 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 late |