Adaptation of Fiber Flax to the South Atlantic States

Report Introduction: The early settlers in the South Atlantic States grew flax in colonial days, but the invention of the cotton gin in 1793 soon did away with the home flax industry. Recently there has been a renewed interest to promote the growing of flax in this section. This interest has caused certain farmers and companies to grow small acreages of fiber flax, and the crops have usually resulted in failures or in uncertain results. Since 1900, experiments in growing fiber flax in many localities from Virginia to Louisiana have been undertaken by individuals, private companies, State experiment stations, and a few by the United States Department of Agriculture. In many instances reports have stated that the plants started out well but ceased growing at the beginning of hot dry weather. In only a few cases have the plants been harvested and fiber prepared, and there are no definite published records of actual yields. Numerous statements that the plants "grew well," or even that they were "over 3 feet tall," have little meaning in the absence of actual measurements. In view of the demand for more definite information, a series of experiments have been conducted and the results recorded.