VOL. XXV.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., FEB. 22, 1890.
NO. 8
Written for the Indiana Farmer.
What of the Flax Industry ?
by J. w. PIERCE.
Tho above question was very ably and
most fully discussed at our Miami county
Farmers' Institute on Saturday, Jan. 25th.
1-00. Some of our most successful farmers joined in the discussion. No doubt
thero are many thousand readers of tho
Farmer who would become interested in
flax culture when they are fully apprised
of the benefits of this great industry. We
will more fully appreciate tho subject after
naving once looked into the question of
"what will jt pay." Let us take for our
basis ten acres of land. It will require ton
bushels.of seed, which can be loaned until
after harvest at $1.40 per bushel, §14.00.
Ten acres will produce at tho very lowest
yield 20 tons, which will bring at our Peru
mills §6.00 per ton, or $120.00. It will produce ten bushels of seed per aero or 100
bushels, which will bring $1.00 per bushel,
or $100.00. We have then a sum total of
$220.00 produced from 10 acres. The expense of producing this ten acres is as
follows:
Seed J14.00
Breaking 10 acres   9.00
Harrowing 10 acres   3.00
Cutting 10 acres.........  *   7.50
Rolling out the seed of 10 acres  10.00
Marketing seed and straw of 10 acres 20.00
Total J63.50
The   straw   and   seed  from  ten   acres
amounts to #220.00, and having deducted
_t -S.50 for seed and labor we have a net
profit    of   §156.50.   Compare    this    with
wh^it.     The  expense  of  producing ton
" acres of winter wheat, 15 bushels of prime
soed wheat §15.00, labor of producing, harvesting and  marketing the  same $40.00,
gives a total of $55.00.   The yield of ten
acres is 150 bushels.   This at 75 cents is
; $75.00, a total of $130.00.   Having deducted
r $55.00 for seed,  labor etc., we have just
; $75.00, or a difference in favor of ilax pro-
\ duction over that of wheat of $81.50.   To
. my mind there is no crop, at the present
time, that shows more profit in producing,
to the Indiana farmer, than that of flax.
By the following table for nine years, it
will-be seen that our statement is correct:
MONTHLY CASH PRICES OF   FLAX SEED FOR
NINE YEARS.
;     The following table exhibits the monthly
range of  cash prices  for  good No. 1 flax
I seed in the Chicago market.
1       1889 1888 1837 188S 1881 1883 1882 1881 1830
I Jan $1 60 Jl 39 J 91 .1 11 .1 39 fl 18 Jl 20 Jl 15 .1 50
j       1 64 1 46 1 06 1 14 1 51 1 31 1 31 1 __ 160
J Feb 1 48 1 43 1 03 1 10 1 49 1 24 1 23 1 20 1 02
I                     161146108112 150131133126165
! March.. 1 48 1 41 1 06 1 05 1 55 1 30 1 18 1 17 150
1 52 1 45 1 10 1 11 1 06 1 50 1 39 1 20 165
April.... 1 51 1 44 1 03 1 03 1 60 1 42 1 32 1 15 1*5
1 56 1 « 1 08 1 07 1 70 1 52 1 40 1 10 150
May  153 180 106 103 168 141 135 110 130
1 57 1 45 1 15 1 07 1 70 1 45 1 41 1 16 1 42
June...- 146 120 112 106 150 132 125 113 121
I                158 1_122 1_170 146 1_1„130
July.... 130 109 106 108 132 130 122 140 118
j                 1 46 1 30 1 17 1 18 1 52 1 41 1 30 1 23 125
Aug  120 1 10 97.107 129 130 125 117 112
1 33 1 31 1 06 1 16 1 36 1 52 1 31 1 33 1 20
Sept.... 1 23 1 22 1 01 1 04 1 29 1 26 1 17 1 31 1 15
1 34 1 34 1 10 1 10 1 34 1 35 1 27 1 50 125
Oct  1 26 1 34 1 05 95 1 32 1 31 1 15 1 38 122
132 155 110 104 136 138 122 149 128
Nov  1 28 1 46 1 11 90 1 29 1 39 1 12 1 45 115
1 38 1 52 1 26 97 1 33 1 35 1 26 1 53 1 23
_ Dec  1 33 1 50 1 22 90 1 30 1 36 1 12 1 24 1 15
1 36 1 63 1 SO 95 1 37 1 46 1 18 1 48 1 16
Tlie Miami county farmers are rejoicing
over the fact of having been able to secure
tlie location at our county seat of a mill
which will be able to tako the tangled'
straw and manufacture it into an excellent
lino quality of tow, by the process of preparing this tangled straw as it comes from
the hands of the farmer for spinning,
known as water rating.
When the farmer cuts his straw he
should leave it a few days on the ground
in dry weather, then tako it up and place
it on tho barn floor and roll the seed out
with a common field roller. Then the seed
and straw are brought to market and will
bring the above named price.   It will be
remembered that these figures on flax are
as low as they have been for a number of
years. We hope to be able to secure contracts with our county farmers in the next
30 days to sow 5,000 acres. Our mill will
be ready for work early in the spring, and
we have the full assurance of a largo twine
and cordage company being formed, with
a capital of $200,000, that will tako all the
tow that can be worked through our farmers' mill up to 100 tons per day. So, it
seems to mo, that the day is not far distant when our grand littlo county will
have established, through the discussions
of our Farmers' Institutes, a mill in full
working order—a mill that will pay tho
spot cash for all flax straw at tho very
highest market valuo. So, my farmer
friends, not only of Miami county, but of
the whole State, let us join hands and give
to this grand new industry our full support. If any further information is wanted
let the fact be known through the Farmer.
Written^for the Indiana Farmer.
Farm Mortgages.
BY JOnN M. STAHL.
On the 16th, when the House was considering the census deficiency appropriation bill, Mr. Bland's amendment appropriating $200,000 to enable the Superintendent of the Census to determino the number
and amount of farm mortgages, was voted
down. I regret ~ to see this action on the
part of the House, and hope those that
have been laboring to have tho census include information of farm mortgages will
redouble their efforts. Jt is not too lato
yet to have tho necessary appropriation
made.
About the farm mortgago indebtedness
of this country there have been some ridiculously exaggerated statements made.
Demagogues and agitators, to accomplish
their despicable ends, have persistently
circulated statements that, if correct, must
convict the farmers of this country of being either indolent, shiftless loafers or else
colossal fools. For example, in the agricultural paper claiming the largest circulation south of the Ohio river, it was recently stated that the farms of New York,
Ohio or Illinois would not sell for enough
to pay the mortgages upon them. Could
there bo ranker rot than this? Yet it is
believed by many people. I know, from,
recent experience, that it is not hard to
find people south who think the farmers
of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois are practically bankrupt, and will soon be force to
move out.
_ I am safe in assuming that many of my
readers have seen that lying statement of
the farm mortgage indebtedness which
has appeared at least once, and in many
cases several times, in half the papers of
the country. This statement, such a base
slander upon tho intelligence and industry
of the farmers, has been repeatedly and
persistently published. It puts the farm,
mortgage indebtedness of Illinois at §700,-
000,000. Now, last year our State Bureau of
Labor Statistics had examined tne records
of every county in the State, and thus got
at every recorded farm mortgage. Tho
sum of these mortgages was found to bo
§123,733,098. This incuded mortgages on
some surburban land, not properly farm,
land. Yet including even these mortgages,
the farm mortgage indebtedness is only
about one-sixth of what it is persistently
stated to be. It is probably the case that
the mortgage indebtedness of other States
is as badly exaggerated. We need reliable
information to correct tho lies kept in circulation to injure such grand States as Indiana and Illinois, to deflect immigration
and capital from them, and to place us in
a false and unenviable light before tho
world.
On the other hand, while we are not
bankrupt, while in the aggregate we are
growing richer every year, there -is a wide
spread feeling that we aro unjustly discriminated against and that our indebtedness is larger than it would be, and is decreasing moro slowly than it would wero
justice done us in legislation. I believe
that for this feeling thero are good grounds.
Trusts, combines and monopolies take
from us a part of our just profits. If we
had reliable and accurate information
about our indebtedness, we would have a
solid foundation for demands for legislation to correct injustice. Such information would stir up many farmers to action,
by showing them that tho condition of the
farming classes is neither hopeless nor altogether what it should bo.
It is plain that for it to bo of much value,
tho information gathered about farm mortgages must include more than the number
and amount of these mortgages. It should
include as far as possible, the purposes for
which the indebtedness is incurred. For
example, the records showed that of the
farm mortgage indebtedness of Illinois,
$20,033,072 was for part purchase money,
I am confident that at least one half of the
farm mortgage indebtedness of Illinois is
for part purchase money. That the indebtedness is for part purchase money is
oftener omitted from than stated in the
mortgages. I made a list of the lirst 10
mortgages that occurred to mo,that I knew
positively were given for part purchase
money. The record showed that only
three were given for part purchase money
Then a considerable part of our mortgage
indebtedness was incurred for substantial
improvements that have proved to be
profitable Investments—tile drainago,barns
and stock shelters, etc. So far as possible,
these facts should be brought out. Farmers of every political faith, financial condition or attitude toward existing condition, have a decided interest in the collection of reliable data of farmers' indebtedness and should demand of Congress the
collection of such data, as full and accurate as the circumstances will permit.
Quincy, 111.
A Few of California's Drawbacks.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
I could tell your readers of many things
to dissuade them from coming to California, but I do not suppose anyone needs
any such dissuasion. The boom burst
long ago, so that fortunes aro no longer
made by buying a fow lots to-day and selling them to-morrow. But all your readers
know that; they know that their fictitious
values are now things of the past. And I
presume they have heard of the vino disease, which in this region (the Santa Ana
valley) has swept away nearly every vineyard—we may say they are all gone.
Hundreds of people who, a few years ago,
had an income of from $75 to $150 per acre,
from their vinoyards, are now without any
income from that souree. With many of
them it was the only source. In our community where two or three years ago there
were packed some 200,000 boxes of raisins,
there were packed the last year, maybe,
4,000 or 5,000 boxes. And this mysterious
disease is something which no one really
understands. Government experts havo
been on the ground, making investigation,
but the most experienced grape growers
doubt whether they know anything about
it, though they have their theories. Other
parts of the State have not yet been so
severely visited as we have in this region;
but tho disease is extending. It is now in
other regions about as far advanced as it
was hero two years ago. Whether anything can be done to arrest its progress is a
problem as yet unsolved. A few are talking of trying to got cuttings from some
place where the disease has not yet developed, if any such place can be found, and
putting out some vines the coming spring;
but most people prefer to wait longer in
hopes the disease may pass away. We
feel sure it will by and by disappear.   But
in the meantime while  we  are waiting
other sources of income must be sought.
I suppose many Indiana peoplo also
know something of tho destruction which
has been wrought in our orango groves by
the redscale. A great many orange groves
have been abandoned and many takon out;
others aro rendereel unproductive. Tho
scale multiplies so rapidly that it covers
the treeallover—bark, leaves, fruit and all.
This takes the life out of the tree so that
fruit falls oil or becomes worthless. The
limbs of the tree die, and the orchard assumes the appearance of a "deadening."
Tlie tree has a wonderful vitality and if
the old dead limbs are cut oil"it soon sends
out now shoots aud resumes a healthy ap-
pearanco. But unless the scale can bo destroyed they soon tako tho life out of tho
new growth and the same thing occurs
again. Lately some wash has been used
which, it is claimed, is quite effectual in
destroying this enemy of the orange. But
a moro recent and probably a more effectual remedy is by what is called "Tho fumigating process." The tree is enclosed in a
canvass tont made as nearly air tight as
possible. Underthis tentagas is generated
by means of certain chemicals, and thus
the scale is smothered. All theso methods,
however, are as yet only in the experimental stage; but good results ai-e earnestly hoped for, and by many confidently expected. If the orange industry can.be revived it will be a great Aelessing to this region of the country.
At the same time thero are many ways
in which industrious and enterprising people can make a living hero. Thore is no
season of the year in which we cannot pre>-
duco something from the ground. If the
question of transportation can be solved
we can supply the Eastern people with
many ofthe fresh vegetables all the winter.
I believe there is a future in store for some
ono who can come to this region and start
a sweet corn cannery. The season for canning could be exteneled here from June to
November. The climate is still here, although this wintor so far has not been so
pleasant as our average winter. Tho
amount of rain and cloudy weather has
been extraordinary. In somo parts much
danger has resulted from the floods, but
the ground is being thoroughly saturated
and water is being stored in the mountains for next summers use. Many of us
feel yet, that with all our drawbacks, this
is still a good land in which we dwell.
Alex Parker.
Crawford County, Illinois.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
I bought a farm throe miles north of
Kobinson, the county seat, one year ago
and have just moved. Wo are woll pleased
with the country and neighbors and I
want to say to tho readers of the Farmer,
especially thoso who are thinking of making a change, or going west, to come and
see Crawford county. Land is very cheap
horo and can be bought on the best of
terms. While it is not a black, rich soil, it
will produce very good crops of wheat, 40
bushels per acre were threshed last year,
and 30 bushels is no uncommon yield and
tho growing crop is looking fine.
For fruit, the climate and soil seem to be
well adapteel for all tho common variety.
There is some fine fruit ground in this
county. For poultry and stock raising I
know of no place that will excel it. The
county is about equally divided between
prairie and timber, with plenty of good
water. My farm consists of 120 acres; 40
acres are timber, with a fine stone quarry
and flowing water. Kobinson has about
3,000 population; is a good business town
and apleasant place to live. J. L. S.
Crawford Co., 111.
A Splendid Number.
Last week's Farmer (15th) was a splendid issue. It. \V. W.
Franklin.