January, 1941
Agron. Mimeo. No, 7

FLAX IN INDIANA
Division of Agronomy, Purdue University Department of Agricultural Extension
The high acre seed cost, relatively low acre yield and difficulty of harvesting due to weeds' discourages most farmers from growing flax in Indiana. Climatic conditions are not well suited to the growing of flax for seed as it- does "best in a cool climate and where the humidity is somewhat less than in this state. While yields as high as 20 bushels per acre have been reported, yields of approximately 6 bushels per acre are to be expected on the average. Only in eastern Indiana, which has the highest altitude, have farmers reported satisfactory yields.
Weed Control Necessary: The slow, short growth of the plants with
narrow short leaves produce but little shade and weeds compete easily. Difficulties with weeds are to. be anticipated in harvesting with a combine and in curing in the shock when binder cut unless land relatively free from weeds is chosen for the growing of flax. Fall .plowed land, preferably sod, or disked corn or soybean stubble  land, where weeds, have been controlled in the preceding crops, is best suited. . Fertile dark-colored upland is preferable as it is apt to grow too short on light-colored soil, and most low black land is too foul with weeds.
Varieties:	The Red Wing, variety is most apt to grow to a convenient
height for harvesting and appears better adapted to our unfavorable conditions, - Other popular varieties, but shorter growing, are Linota and Bison.
	
Seeding:	Flax should be seeded in late March or early April in this
climate. The land should be’ fitted as for any other early seeded spring crop and the seed should be drilled shallow at from three to four pecks por acre. Most manufacturers of grain drills sell simple, inexpensive devices to insert into the grain cups to control the rate cf seeding of the free flowing flax seed.
Harvesting:	Flowering and setting of seed bolls continue over a long
period. The crop is ready to cut with a binder when about three-fourths of the bolls have turned brown, which usually occurs during the latter part of July, The crop will not be ready to harvest with a combine until from two to three weeks later or even longer. Regardless of how it is threshed, all equipment must be tight to prevent a loss of the free flowing seed. Flax is more difficult to thresh than any of our commonly grown crops. Care must be taken to adjust the threshing equipment so that the seed in removed from the bolls. Another difficulty encountered is wrapping of straw around rotating parts unless perfectly dry.
If there is much green material in the seed at least that portion to be saved for seeding purposes should be recleaned immediately. Small lots of flax seed are difficult to market. Write Agronomy Department for market outlets.
Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics
State of Indiana, Purdue University and the United * States Department of Agriculture Cooperating H. J. Reed, Director, Lafayette, Indiana Issued in furtherance of the Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914
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