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About The Oregon statesman. (Salem, Or.) 1916-1980 | View Entire Issue (June 22, 1944)
The Peruvian Flax Situation Demytt Reports Wartime Post-War ; Plcms for Valley's Important Crop r Petwecn 1500 and 1K3 tow of flax ire lvin en ft wv Peru. This flax was intended for the United States war indus tries, chiefly parachute ribbing. Most of it is fit only for towels. Aiuirai w ccmins io ine states hoping that England will relieve ' 111 1942, our federal government made a contract with the j-cru uu growers to rurnisa 4399 tons of flax fiber a year. The con tract Is to continue until six months after the armistice.. - Never. has. Peru been able to furnish the entire 4000 tons nam ed in . the contract as the maxi mum, But Peru farmers thought they would make a million in a hurry, and much flax was plant ed. The first year they produced a couple tons of flax straw to the acre. Nor was the crop, both in quantity and quality, so very bad the second year. Repeat Too Seen Then the South American flax growers conceived the idea of growing a second crop of flax on the same ground in the same year. Climate permitted, but dis ease and insects took over. This year the average was only ton of flax straw an acre. The quality was very poor, too poor for the war industry in which we had hoped to use it We never grew such poor straw here in the Willa mette valley. The United States, . realizing it can get along with less fiber, now wishes it could termin ate its flax contract with Peru. This is the story Leo J. De mytt of Salem bronght back to . our federal bureau of foreign v economics when be Jost recently returned from a six months' flax . trip to Perm. And It is the story he told as we sat in the flax in dustry offices at the state penl . tentiary, gladly admiring from without, the attractive gardens - within the prison walls. Mr. Demytt, whose knowledge of flax growing and handling goes back to his Belgium forefathers, was sent to Peru by the federal government to inspect the grad ing of the flax before it was ship ped to us. There are six grades. Only one-half of one per cent of the fiber is grade AT And in alL Peru had only about 600 tons of flax fiber this year. It is this, with . some of the 1942 crop which still lies in Peru. Crop Not Useable Flax along the narrow coastal valleys of Peru simply wasn't fit to pull. The lowest pass from the coast to the country beyond was 14,800 feet, and here,' on the other side of the mountains, in valleys with a floor level of 11,500 feet some good flax was still grown. These valleys' still produce from 2000 to 3000" tons of fiber a year. But there is hot enough to make it worthwhile. Mr. Demytt advised Peru to stop growing flax in the coast valleys for five years. At the end of that period, flax might be grown there again - provided growers do not try to produce it all in one year. Flax, whether it is grown in Peru or in the United States is I absolutely a , rotation crop, Demytt says. It should be grown on the same ground only once in each five years. In Bel gium where it has b t n grown al " most as long as there has been a Belgium, it is repeated only once in each seven years. How come the contract with Peru? l ',. We were afraid, Demytt ex plains, that we couldn't have sufficient fiber necessary m ear H war industry. Because of the war," fiber . wasn't coming in from Europe. Only a little could be had from Chill, 'Argentina, Brazil. Pent, with its temperate climate, seemed the answer, and 'Pent did produce a couple of good crops of flax. Our government was "lucky," says Demytt, that the flax indus try in the Willamette valley was so well established. . It it hadnl been for the valley's industry, there would have been a critical Shortage of fiber for shoe thread, parachute ribbing and fish nets. But, according 16 Mr, "Demytt; what has happened to Peru's flax industry, can happen to Willamette valley's If our growers do not ob serve the proper ' rotation. In 1943, 17,000 acres of flax were harvested, and some 12,000 plant ed in 1944, and where a few years ago, there , were only three flax mills now there are 14. Leant Flax Growing- , ," - Flax " growing and processing . isn't, ; Demytt advises, something - one learns over night. One might grow some good fiber once,, and during the war needs, the mill .might come out all right on in flated' prices. But when the war is over and the flax industry set- . ties down to a civilian affair , where making money and not the production of a war-needed pro duct is the aim' of the mills, the story will be different European " competition will again play a de- ciding part. Many of the flax mill ACORN The" different varieties of squash differ in shape more than in any other way. There are two general classes, one usually called summer squash, which are eaten when the rind is soft; the other win trr squash, which are allowed to mature with hard rinds, and which 1 1 well fc:to tne winter. l.s.i -ccr-ie an important food as at first planned, we are now us of it. operators and many of the grow ers tacK expeilence in their busi ness. Wilt and black rust have ap peared in a number of the valley news, jr lax is already beta grown too often on the same soil. win carries over from year - to year. Blackrust is mostly due to climatic conditions, but it is not so serious as wilt, and can be controlled to some degree by ro tation. ! - The Willamette valley's flax in dustry dates back to 1915, when individual growers did a little ex peri men ting in the Marion and Jefferson districts. , Shortly thereafter, while cast ing about for an industry far the Oregon - penitentiary, the state first became Interested.: Mr. DeMytt, reared hi Belgium's flax and linen industry, . came into the state picture In 1925. . Books shew that in 1931, when L. Lewis became manager of the prison flax office, and Mr. De mytt took ever the plant man agement, the state flax industry was in debt around 1500,000. New, there Is money enough to pay off the debt and some to spare. The state flax Industry will turn around a half mffllon dollars this year, more than saf ficient to support the entire pri son. And it gives 200 prisoners employment the year arena d. In the spring of 1944, the state con tracted for 2400 acres. The flax is grown by Individual farmers under contract. Through the state plant, the fiber is finished and sold mostly to the local mills.' The Willamette valley flax in dustry after the war? That, according to Demytt, will depend entirely upon how Oregon goes at it. A more thorough study of the growing and preparing fiber will have to be made if Oregon's four million dollar flax industry is to be saved. The owners of the newer plants will need plenty of help from the state: someone with real knowledge of the industry to advise them. - European fiber has been consid ered the better because it has been selected more carefully, but in the opinion of Mr. DeMytt, the Wflla mete valley -- produce as good flax straw as can be produced any place in the world. To keep up the standard after the war, valley producers will have to i observe fundamental principles. It can be grown as cheaply here as. in Eu rc but the processing is another question, Demytt states. There will always be the difference in the standards of living and wages. Small Tracts Best Mr. Demytt advises growers not to try to grow too much flax at one time. A few acres say five or ten grown carefully will make more money than 50 acres care lessly grown. That is one thing, he says, we could profitably learn from the Belgium farmers, If the flax can follow a legume crop one has the ideal situation. All 4UU1UUUIU lUUUCll 9 U1C1I I needed in the soil. A little notash and phosphate yes. On account of weeds, if barnyard manures have been used on the soil, it is better to grow some otherr crop the first year, and flax the sec ond. If weather permits, March is the right time to sow the seed, using an average of 84 pounds an acre, with a little more on good bottom land. Weeds must be kept out. Synox spray Is being used to kill the broad-leaved varieties. This will not injure the flax nor, he added, will it kill the Canada thistle, granes or dogf ennel. Spraying should be done when the plants are five or I six inches tall, when both flax and weeds are making good growth. Ordinarily, the flax reaches its height in late, June or early. July. This year harvesting will be late. The average yield, in thet valley is around tw,o tons an acre, but there have been several yields o: .three tons and over. , . -' "Flax, said .Demytt as we start ed to leave the prison, "is an ex cellent I industry for the Wilia mette valley. We may have to work to keep it a good industry.' Proteins Are Grown : Use of dry wrinkled peas from government stocks as an addition-. al protein supplement for "mixed feeds in Oregon has been author ized with an allocation' of 25 tons for June The dry peas will be distributed ; immediately among Oregon feed mixers by the state feed advisory committee. They will be ground and blended. TUSK'S CAP Both summer ana winter st---- for Americans. Wi S it i By Uured Reporter RAIN! BAIN! BAIN That's about all we heard on our ram bles this. week. Fruit growers, flax grow.ers, vegetarians, all liked the rain. The haymakers were very glum. And there , were a lot of haymakers with hay in windrows, in shocks and unraked. Those who boasted crops saved, in dry and shelter, were very few. Those with silage equipment for green hay Just smiled broadly. 'The i feed shortage promised this year," said one . haymaker, "won't be helped by this." We weren't 'sure this statement was completely true, for we saw al falfa making wonderous growth. Strawberry pickers . admitted that the rain J made picking "messy") and growers thought it spoiled a few berries in the field. However, some were optimistic in declaring . it would help develop the' later crop. -- Over in Folk county we found some- interest m Mexican utDor. Said Charles H. Benier, farm la bor assistant in charge of the Dal las farm labor office, a limited number of Mexican nationals may be available for; field work on farms in. the county from about July 15 for. . a period of approxi mately a month, and farmers who can- board - and room them may contract for them. These men may be used for hay, grain or seed harvest or other work where able- bodied .men are required and where the Mexican nationals can be used .satisfactorily. Farmers in terested should call at the Dallas farm labor office in the city hall building and make arrangements with1 Mr. RenierJ Requests should be made right away. Dairy cows in Clackamas coun ty are supporting the war effort by hitting the highest production peaks ; ever seen! there, according to William Rollins,!; known as "Jersey I Bill,", who was also me andering- in the i Clackamas dist net, Rollins is one of the owners of one of the large distributing plants in Portland. He laid the high production t per ; cow to the excellent pasture 'program in Clackamas, county. "These good I pastures," says Rollins, i "have made up somewhat the- shortage in protein concen trates and have been largely re sponsible for keeping up a good flow of; milk, a better flow, than wes have ever before experienced in this territory.! We were also interested in hear ing about the most ; outstanding jtejsy;ww??weAipip l ft Jl AJLILnJI HeenMMannunMBnvBMBBkeiBM en wa Piddic !!' ') Tha CZZCCri CTATCIIAIl, tzhrx Ortgoa ttcaday irarfrgt 22, VmI New3 and Vietvs of example of a profitable new farm ing, venture in Clackamas county. This was listed as the planting of subterranean clover for seed on the farm of Bert Schiewe, Clarke. The planting produced over 200 pounds per acre of dean seed In 1943, and the stand at this time is so "thick -"and verdant as to cause people to shake their heads after looking It over, and remark, "I still dont believe it" Over aearlZeuv Polk county, we sound air. ana Mrs. vmton Alexander turning out on range 3500 turkeys hatched from eggs brooded in the large hot water brooder house owned by Mr. and Mrs. Howard Goodfellow. At Sdo, in Linn county, fellow farmers . were already . missing Frank G. Cary, Scioan and life long farmer ' and sheep rancher, who will leave in early October to make California shis home. From Sheep I to turkeys will be the farm theme, as Mrs. Birdie Gates and her brother,, Bob De- vaney, new owners, are extensive turkey raisers. . Allies' Diet Kept At Fighting Level llore -than -11 -million '. tons of American food has been turned over to the Allies since the first consignment of lease-lend reached Great Britain three years ago, June 1941. This food was a rela tively small part of our produc tion, but a potent factor in keep ing the diets of our allies at levels necessary to keep them fighting at top efficiency. Almost all lend lease foods go to the United King dam, and Russia. Food shipments to these countries this year are expected to total about eleven and one-half percent of estimated sup plies in the United States " with about 4 going to the United Kingdom and other British claim ants, three and one-half percent goes to Russia and 4 for use in fulfilling emergency requirements for liberated areas and other special purposes. Two Methods Success Poultrymen and poultry veterin arians alike have argued the rela tive efficiency of the rapid serum and tube agglutination tests for pullorum disease in turkeys. After making thousands of comparisons of the two methods of the OSC experiment station . M. Dickin son, poultry veterinarian, and his associates have reported in station technical bulletin No. 6 that the two . methods : are in such ' close agreement that there is no reason to doubt the efficiency of either one. .- ! : 111' ' ' lfl ' The distinciive smoothness and zest of SFcks' Select hove j given it a place oil its own In public esteem. Among beers It is unique in the favor in which it b held by 1 those who recognize and demand extraordinary merit. SIOCS' EEVYING COMPANY SAlEM,CCEGON Speed ine Victor - 8y 4 i Farm and Garden: : HiLsbndnieiiat College Get v Outside Help A gift of. a valuable Romney ram to Oregon State College by Clarence Bishop has called atten tion to -the cooperation extended the animal husbandry department by leading breeders of the state by similar gifts or loans.- Without this help the breeding program at the college could not have been con tinued as effectively in this period of high priced breeding stock, R, G. Johnson, head of the ani mal husbandry department says. The Romney ram received re cently was sired by a ram im ported from New 2fealand and was retained by Bishop last fall despite repeated offers from breeders in Oregon and other states. Four stud Romney yearling ewes have also been donated by C E. Grelle, manager . of the Henry Ranch company of i Vancouver, Wash. Oliver Brothers of John Day and Jaeger Brothers of Condon have each loaned a sire to the col lege for use in its beef cattle herds. Both are from famous blood lines. C W. Craddock of Silvies valley has made available ah Angue sire, close relative to the one that sold for 140,000. N. H. Martin of ! The Dalles loaned to the college a Perch eron stallion which was Junior champ ion at the Pacific International Livestock exposition. Eggs Converted To Use as Feed Due to inadequate storage space in which to keep the: current high production of eggs from the na tions record army of biddies, the war food administration will can vert some eggs to animal feed in order to keep the pledge of the government to farmers to support the price of eggs and to prevent eggs that cannot be stored or con sumed from being entirely wasted. In announcing the; necessity tor such a program, the WFA empha sized that it would ' operate only to a limited extent and for such time as necessary to carry out price support commitments. Na turally, all eggs that can possibly be consumed or stored will be kept in consumption channels and the program will salvage for animal feed only those eggs that would otherwise, spoil. The temporary conversion of some eggs to animal feed which is in short supply was made necessary by the fact that purchase of eggs by WFA to sup port producer price levels had reached -such ' volume that suit able cold storage space could not be found in which to keep the eggs for human consumption. 1 War tonds 1211 PIsns Hade for 4-H Gob Hexabers ' One hundred and fifteen Clack amas county 4-H club youngsters have signed up for the club sum mer camp slated to begin at Camp Colton today, according to J.- J. Xnskeep, Polk county agent, who will assist George Pope, county 4-H leader in running the activi ties. ' s ; Boy clubbers will be given in struction in identification . of grasses and legumes and wiH study livestock judging, feeding and management, while the girls will specialize in studies of food pres ervation and clothing. Both boys and girls will study forestry man agement and all members attend ing will be given first aid instruc tion by Allen Lee of Molalla, former member of the State col lege varsity swimming team. Mrs. John Gottswald of Molalla will assist in conducting clothing classes. Other members of the teaching staff will include Turner Bond, Miss Janet Taylor, Miss felen CowgilL Walter Fergerson, J. J. Inskeep. The Lutheran church, which owns Camp Colton, has announced that church facilities will be avail able for girls' classroom work. Loganberries May Have Revival , Agent Declares Loganberry acreage which has decreased gradually during the past few years is expected to make sharp increase next spring in Clackamas county, according to County Agent J. J. Inskeep, who says that one of the large can neries operating in Oregon is con tracting for the crops from new plantings. - i- Growers who expect to make new plantings should arrange tor plants in the near future, he adds, as loganberries produce more and better plants from new canes. which are buried: or tipped for this purpose. Inskeep further adds that new contracts call for prices set by the Loganberry Control board and contracts may run un til 1950. There are thousands and thousands. , of Long Distance calls every day." Three, five and ten times as many be- ; .tween some cities as before the war.' When your Long Distance call is on war-crowded circuits, the opera-; tor may ask you to "Please limit your call to 5 minutes." That's especially important thesei days when wires are needed for the war. DAC1C THE ATTACK BUY MOKE THAN BEFORE 10 y j er , 7i3 A Street ' - - ,1 ' ' 4 - l n .a - ' f -' -, - . . - i ' . Fall Gardens Being liaid - Out Novrr ; ; Now: is the time to Egore wxri fall and winter gardens, accord ing to Gardener Carl Joehnk, over In Clackamas county. Plant late beets and carrot seed if you' have a vacant spot Some are setting out late ? cabbage and' cauliflower plants now, . which Js too early. Others have just recently planted seed end will have plants for sale to be set out in July, and op to about the 10th of August Snow ball strains of cauliflower can, be set out early but they are difficult to grow. Better, adds Joehnk, grow (he Nevember-December strains. Broccoli, if set out too early, will head hi mid-winter and are apt to be injured by severe freezing. You also avoid a lot of insect trouble by planting late. This al so apples to kale and. brussels sprouts. : ' "'." - Another advantage is that part of early garden will be out of the way and will give room for late planting. Turkeys and the War Quick cooperation on the part of turkey t producers in furnishing 8,000,000 pounds of hen turkeys requested by the army to start its supply for shipment to American fighting forces - overseas : has re sulted in the - termination of the war food order which required a 100-percent set-aside v of hen turkeys. Remainder of j the hen turkeys wfll go into regular trade channels and they are reported to be coming to market faster than usual due to the right feed situa tion. 1 Tractors on Steel Farmers have been put on notice that tractors now operating on steel will haye to stay on steel a while longer. The additional pro duction facilities T for i large size rubber tires that are now coming into use must be utilized to make tires for niiUtary 5 vehicles and domestic truck transportation. For an indefinite period, supplies of large tractor tires will only be suf ficient to equip new tractors and replace " worn-out - or :i damaged tires. - - - - v Telephone SIC1 : ....... II . H If s. '?r5-r I fi-M X -vis- riff i pag2 in:: Rehfeld3 Hosto ToSeatdeFolk , JI7FIN--Overnight guests recently at the home of Mrs. and lira. Frank Rehfeld were Mr. and lira. OrvCle Eehfeld and dauh ter Karen Kay, and Francis Reh f eld of Seattle, Wash. The-men are employed at the Boeing Air craft plant Mr. and Mrs. Clinton Page came with them for a visit with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. L; Page. Mrs. B. B. Smith spent several days in Sweet Home, and celebrat ing her birthday anniversary Mon day, June 19, at the home of her granddaughter, Mrs. Glen Daven port and family, there. . ' Mrs. J. G. Fontaine andSrs. C J. Thurston will be delegates to the annual conference; of the Methodist church, held in Portland June 22-2S. Mrs. Georgia Bichardson is quite fU at her home on south ' main street Miss Enid Cole is caring for her. - - Rex. Cobb, who is employed at the Cobb Manufacturing plant, has been confined to his home for sev eral days, because of back trouble. ' Mr. and Mrs. Gernsey 'Abbott of Parma, Idaho, spent several days last week . visiting at : the home of their aunt, Mrs. Grace Thurston. , , ' Bruce Miller has gone to Can yonville, where he will be em ployed as fire warden by the forest service; during i the fire season. Mrs. Miller will remain in Jeffer son. .' J' I . -T v-. - ' Berries Showing Spot i To Be Topped ; i Cutting off the tops of sbraw berry plants after harvest is recommended only where straw berry leaf spot is bad or where the strawberry crown moth is present, says, O, T. McWhorter, extension horticulturist, OSC If tops are to' be cut off, he recommends their removal with a scythe, sickle, or knife immedi ately following harvest, 1 after which they' can be raked to the center of the rows and burned to destroy the leaf spot disease. De laying topping long after the end of harvest has resulted in sharp ly decreased yields the next sea-. son." ! Some growers follow the prac tice of leaving one plant in every eight to serve as trap plants for moth eggs. After the eggs are de posited, these plants are then' de stroyed. , - . i . i If til
