Flax Growing Research Articles

Эффективность протравливания семян льна препаратом «Систива»

Abstract. The purpose is testing of a new method of etching flax seeds with a new fungicidal drug with a long-term protective effect of “Sistiva”. Methods. Tested during field experiments on registration tests of pesticides and determination of the economic efficiency of using the results of scientific research in agriculture. The relevance and national economic significance of the development are determined by its relevance to the agroindustrial complex of Russia with the possibility of increasing the efficiency of flax seed etching, replacing old preparations with new ones, contributing to the improvement of biological and economic indicators of flax cultivation technology. The scientific novelty of the research is associated with the priority of searching for acceptable technological methods, including effective plant protection measures, for the flax growing of the Russian Federation. Results. A fungicidal seed protectant “Sistiva” (0.5 l/t), new for flax growing, was identified, which confirmed in field registration tests the long-term protective effect claimed in preliminary experiments and statistically significantly exceeded the effectiveness of the standard seed protectant TMTD (4 l/t). The indicators of the influence of these chemicals on the manifestation of diseases of flax seedlings (anthracnose, ozoniosis (mottling)) and maturing flax plants (anthracnose, septoria (pasmo), aureobazidiosis (polysporosis)), on the yield of flax products are analyzed. In a production environment with the use of an automated etching machine PS-10A, an effective reliable decrease in the manifestation of flax diseases and an increase in its yield associated with the use of the “Sistiva” preparation are shown. In the production experience, he surpassed in biological efficiency and a positive effect on the yield of flax products – the basic seed protectant TMTD. The economic effect of the new recommended option in comparison with the basic one was +15,257 rubles/ha. The environmental and sanitary-hygienic advantages of the use of “Sistiva” over the previously practiced seed etching with toxic chemicals are noted.

LOW-QUALITY FLAX STRAW BIOMASS HARVESTING FOR SUBSEQUENT USE AS FUEL: A REVIEW

Unfavorable conditions for flax growing, harvesting and dew-retting are the reason for the low-quality flax biomass production. This biomass cannot be processed for fiber or other purposes. Therefore, flax straws are burned in the fields or are used as fertilizer by plowing into the soil, which are not good solutions for the environment and subsequent cultivation operations. The limit values of quality properties of fibre flax stem, flax straw and retted straw for their processing are summarized, which can be used to determine the suitability of flax straw biomass for processing or burning. Low-quality flax biomass is inexpensive, ecofriendly and renewable, it can be used as solid fuel for heating greenhouses or buildings located near the field where the flax is grown. Various techniques of fibre flax and oilseed flax harvesting are presented in the article. The technique of low-quality flax harvesting is recommended, which include flax pulling out or flax cutting, flax threshing, flax straw windrow forming, flax straw natural drying on the field in natural way, flax bale forming, flax bale transporting, flax bale burning. This harvesting technology can be used for low-quality fibre flax and oilseed flax. Flax straw biomass can be baled into three bale types: small rectangular bales, big round bales, and big square bales The main requirements for fuel flax biomass bales are recommended. The boiler for burning flax straw bales must be chosen taking into account the shape and size of the bales. For the efficient operation of boilers, it is necessary to take into account the recommended values ​​of bale bulk density and moisture content of flax biomass.

Sea Change: Ottoman Textiles between the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean

Sea Change: Ottoman Textiles between the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean

Методические подходы и экономическое обоснование лицензионных вознаграждений за селекционные достижения в льняном подкомплексе

Abstract. The paper presents the results of scientific research in the field of flax growing, based on the study of methods and methods for calculating the value of the royalty rate for a selection achievement on the example of financial and economic relations between the Federal State Budgetary Institution of the LC and economic entities, the factors that can influence the amount of royalties in the flax subcomplex are given. Methodological approaches for calculating the projected amount of royalties at the conclusion of a non-exclusive license agreement with potential licensees are presented. The procedure for calculating the amount of royalties for inventions is set out in a number of regulatory legal acts that have been in force since the USSR. However, there is currently no methodology for calculating rewards for breeding achievements in the field of flax growing. The relevance of the study is to develop a methodology for calculating the amount of mandatory payments for the use of a selection achievement in a linen subcomplex. This technique will speed up the procedure for assessing the cost of breeding achievements – domestic varieties of flax. The application of the methodology will ensure an increase in the efficiency of the management of breeding achievements as a material asset that brings income to a scientific institution. The purpose of this study is to develop a methodology for calculating rewards for the use of a selection achievement as an object of intellectual property, using the example of flax varieties created in the FSBI FNC LC, taking into account the biological characteristics of the culture and the specifics of production in the flax subcomplex. Methods. In the course of the study, methods of comparative, abstract-logical, functional-cost analysis, expert evaluation were used. The result of practical application is the new methodological approaches developed by the authors to the calculation of the license fee for the use of breeding achievements – flax varieties, taking into account factors affecting the amount of royalties. The scientific novelty. It consists in the economic justification of the methodology for calculating license fees for the use of domestic varieties of flax in relation to various subjects of the Russian Federation and the areas of application of flax raw materials (textiles, medicine, etc.), taking into account the biological characteristics of the culture and the specifics of its production.

Probabilistic Model of the Kinematics of the Device for Reducing Elongation of Flax Fiber Stems in the Tape

Introduction. The main reason for the crisis state of flax growing is the losses of the flax fiber portions when it is extracted from the crop. This is due to excessive elongation of the stems in the layer. It was found that the most convenient way to reduce elongation in the field conditions when turning over flax strips by striking the butt portions in the direction of the stems. The authors propose to use for this purpose a pickup flax turner with a conveyor-type inclined flax butting machine. The purpose of the research is to increase the efficiency of flax tapes leveling process by butting flax stems. Materials and Methods. It is noted that the maximum effect will be provided by a counterimpact in the direction of the flax stems. For this purpose, the speed of motion of the butting surface relative to the retted straw transversely to the flax stems should have a constant zero value. The specified mode can be realized by a conveyor with roller activators. In the article, the random nature of the working conditions of machine units in the field was noted that is an additional obstacle for processing the flax tapes by the suggested method. Therefore, it is recommended to use probabilistic and graph-analytical methods of calculation when designing flax butting machines. Results. Using the graph-analytical method, a probabilistic model linking the kinematics of the proposed device with the probability of causing counter-strikes on the flax butts was obtained. It was found that two-roller activators in combination with inclination of butting surface will provide pronounced impacts, increase speed and probability of their application. Parameters and operating modes of inclined conveyor-type butting machine were substantiated experimentally. Discussion and Conclusion. Application of the proposed method, taking into account the results obtained, will reduce the elongation of flax stems in strips by 5.6% for one turning over and the yield of long fiber by 2.5–3.0%.

Implementation of digital technologies as a tool for the development of the flax industry

Relevance. The introduction of digital technologies into the flax industry is an integral part of increasing production efficiency. Competently adapted new digital solutions are prerequisites for expanding opportunities and strengthening of the competitive position of both individual economic entities and the industry as a whole. One of the main reasons of limitation of the introduction of new, including digital, technologies in flax cultivation is a high proportion of physically worn out, with depreciation up to 100%, and obsolete equipment, which often leads to critical deviations in technological operations, from pre-sowing tillage to post-harvest works. This is reflected in the effectiveness not only of the individual operations carried out (poor-quality performance, lagging behind the deadlines, etc.), but also on the efficiency of flax cultivation and, ultimately, on the profitability of the flax-growing business itself. Considering that many farms still use equipment manufactured in the 1970s initially there is a question of widespread introduction of complex mechanized and automated technologies, and then the transition to the use of digital technologies and automated control systems. In this regard, the task of scientists is to create conditions for the introduction of innovative technologies and the development of agricultural services for the digital transformation of agricultural production.Methods. The work used a wide range of analytical methods used to study economic phenomena in the agro-industrial complex, in particular, in flax growing.Results. The main advantages of digital transformation of agricultural production processes in flax growing are considered, scientifically grounded developments of the Federal Scientific Center for Bast Crops and JSC Scientific Research Institute of Information Technologies in the field of information and analytical system of crop production management are proposed, a model for managing business processes based on digital transformation and state support for the introduction of digital technologies at all stages of the production process is proposed.

Wybrane zwyczaje agrarne wsi polskiej na przykładzie Podlasia

The paper aims to demonstrate the importance of two agricultural practices: harvesting and flax growing. The knowledge of village traditions, customs and agricultural rituals has been discussed as it has an impact on the multifunctional and sustainable development of rural areas. The research shows that socio-cultural and ethnographic issues in the Polish countryside have little interest among the respondents.

Herbological and agrotechnological approaches to weeding plants in modern flax growing

The article presents the main trends of weed floristic composition change in flax crops, associated with the development of agrotechnical methods of this crop cultivation. It is shown that the development of scientific and technical support for the flax industry contributes to a more complete satisfaction of culture with all factors of life and enhances its competitive ability. So, the phytocenotic role of many segetal weeds present in crops decreases, up to their complete loss from agrophytocenosis. They considered the actual weediness of flax crops and the biological effectiveness of various preparations and their compositions to prevent weeds.

Flax Growing in Tyumen Region: History of Formation and Development in XX Century

The aspects of the origin, formation and development of the flax-growing industry in the Tyumen region in the ХХ century are considered. Based on the available historiographic material (articles, reports, essays, descriptions, statistical information), the authors identified the features of the formation of the industry. It is noted that the historical conditions in which the Tobolsk (Tyumen) province was located, later the region, throughout the XX century, were full of contradictions and difficulties. It is argued that, having good potential, having received an impetus for development in the middle of the last century, at present, flax growing has not become one of the most important sectors of the economy. It is shown that the publications of the Tobolsk Provincial Statistical Committee: “Reviews of the Tobolsk Governorate”, “Reviews of the Tobolsk Governorate in the Agricultural Relationship”, the works of N. L. Skalozubova — reveal the state of agricultural life of the population of the province, the research potential of the Tyumen experimental station, the advanced experience of agricultural enterprises, allow to identify the main problems and prospects for growing flax in the region. The productivity of flax in various agro-ecological zones of the region, varietal potential and the degree of its realization, taking into account climatic features over a long period, the economic feasibility of growing both fiber and oil-bearing forms are analyzed. The main stages of development of flax growing and limiting factors for the production of high-quality flax products are identified.

The Main Problems of Scientific Support of Flax Growing

Strategic plans for the economic development of the Russian Federation involve an increase in demand for natural fiber products, including linen, which will require an increase in the production of domestic linen in the near future. The authors examined the most important problems of scientific support for production increasing and the quality of flax products improving in the Russian Federation.(Research purpose)To assess the flax growing state and identify the problems of scientific support for improving the flax production quality.(Materials and methods)The authors studied the organizational aspects of fl ax cultivation and processing, new ways of harvesting crops, issues of technological processes mechanization and the state of farms’ technical equipment.(Results and discussion)The authors showed that the share of flax use in industrialized countries reached 24 percent in the textiles, paper, and composite materials production. They found out that the mechanization level at the flax mills did not exceed 40 percent. They presented a comparative analysis of the intensification level of Western European and domestic flax growing. They confirmed that separate cleaning technology could be applied on average at 25-30 percent of the harvested area, depending on weather conditions. It was determined that approximately 90 percent of treated plant fibres were received using a dewy lobe in Russia and abroad. The authors developed a new method of cleaning flax and a multifunctional unit for its implementation. During the experiments, they established a 50 percent increase in the productivity of new technical equipment, a 60 percent reduction in the heap content, and a 3-fold reduction in seed losses compared to harvesting with the LK-4A flax harvester. They showed the advantages of the method of the tape wrapping on linen, which created equal conditions for aging for the upper and lower layers, which was especially effective when the straw yield was more than 3.5 tons per hectare. Wrapping helped to increase the uniformity of straw in color in the upper and lower layers of the tape and increased the quality and quantity of flax seeds.(Conclusions)It was established that in order to increase the flax growing efficiency, a comprehensive modernization was necessary, which involved the solution of organizational, agronomic, technological and engineering issues.

ОБҐРУНТУВАННЯ ПАРАМЕТРІВ ДЕКОРТИКАТОРА ПРЕСПІДБИРАЧА ВАЛКІВ СТЕБЛОВО-ВОЛОКНИСТОЇ МАСИ ЛЬОНУ ОЛІЙНОГО

У статті вказано на напрями використання стеблової частини врожаю льону олійного. Запропоновано машину для підбирання валків стеблово-волокнистої маси льону на полі для виготовлення малогабаритних паливних рулонів, або підготовки її для подальшого вилежування маси з метою отримання волокна.

Flax growing in late antique Egypt: evidence from the Aphrodito papyri

While flax culture was a major economic sector in Egypt throughout antiquity and the medieval period, one can only agree with John R. Rea, the editor of P. Coll.Youtie II 68, when he says: “it has not escaped notice that surprisingly little information about [flax and linen] has been recovered from the Greek papyri”. By way of example, the specific word for the flax plant, linokalamē, appears in Greek papyri only in around 60 of more than 60,000 published texts. More specifically, the agricultural conditions set to produce flax are seldom visible in the texts: little more than twenty documents are relevant to this topic. A first explanation for this lack of data concerning flax in the papyri is that the main region of flax production was the Delta, which has yielded almost no papyri because of its humid climate. In a recent study, Katherine Blouin convincingly gathered the evidence for flax production in the Delta, specifically the Mendesian nome, underlying how this area enjoyed suitable conditions for flax growing. As she points out, Pliny the Elder, our main source on flax culture in Roman Egypt, listed four varieties of Egyptian linen, three of which are associated with towns located in the Northern Delta: Tanis, Pelusium and Bouto. This explanation is not fully satisfactory because, while the Delta was probably the main region of production, flax was also cultivated in the Valley and in such proportions that it should be more visible in the texts. Several sources can be mentioned to attest, if needed, that flax was also a cash crop in Upper Egypt. First, the fourth variety listed by Pliny refers to the city of Tentyris, modern Dendera. Medieval sources also mention flourishing centres of flax and linen in this part of the country: “When the merchant Ibn H auqal described the countryside of Egypt around the middle of the tenth century, the distribution of cash crops was dominated by a certain specialization, with Aswan (Syene) noted for its abundance of date palms, Ashmunein for flax, ‘Fayyum’ (the former Arsinoe) for fruit orchards and rice cultivation, Bahnasā (Oxyrhynchus) for its diversified textile industry, and so on”. In the documents from the Cairo Geniza, dating from the 11th century, twenty-eight varieties of flax are mentioned, “some of them are named for the location in which they were cultivated”.8 These places are not all identified but at least we can recognise from Upp er Egypt the “Asyūtī (Suyūtī), Ashmūnī, Itf īhī” and “Fayyūmī”. Indeed, a few papyri from Ashmunein (Hermopolis) and a more important group of a dozen papyri from Oxyrhynchus mention flax growing in these two cities in the 4th century AD. Recently, Jennifer Cromwell studied textile production in Western Thebes as documented by Coptic papyri from the 6th to the 8th century and she analysed the attestations of flax production, in particular on land owned by the monastery of Epiphanius. At the important monastery of Apa Apollo at Bawit in the Hermopolite nome, although its important body of documents illustrates wheat and wine production, only one text alludes directly to flax growing: a 7th- or 8th-century list of wine distribution for the workers hired for the harvest of flax.

NAAS 20 research program "Bast Crops": main results of 2019

The scientific achievements of the executors of the program for scientific support of the branches of flax growing and hemp growing are highlighted, the current state of scientific researches in the field of breeding, technologies of cultivation, harvesting and processing of industrial hemp and fiber flax is shown.

Исторические аспекты развития льноводства в Тобольской губернии во второй половине XIX века

The article is devoted to the history of flax growing and consideration of the experience of its development as an agricultural sector in the Tobolsk province. The material was the reviews, reports, descriptions and recommendations identified by the authors and devoted to this area of agriculture in the second half of the 19th century, among them: “Reviews of the Tobolsk province”, “Report on flax growing, flax production and flax trade in the northern region” by P. P. Chubinsky, “Instructions on how to benefit from agriculture or a description of the Turin district of the Tobolsk province economically” by priest M. Popov, “Harvest of grain in the Tobolsk province in 1894 and brief information about the state of agriculture” by N. L. Skalozubov. It is noted that the considered chronological period is poorly covered in the available literature, which contains only statistical information on the number of collected breads received from volost boards and from the appendices to the governor's reports. It is reported that the analysis of the situation in agriculture was carried out by local agronomists. It is emphasized that it was only in the early 1890s that the Tobolsk Provincial Committee attempted to systematize information on the state of agriculture in the province on the basis of data received from respondents living in rural areas and villages. The presented material reflects the main “milestones” of the development of flax growing in the Tobolsk province in agrotechnical, economic and economic aspects.

NAAS 20 research program "Bast crops": main results of 2018

The scientific achievements of the executors of the program for scientific support of the branches of flax growing and hemp growing are highlighted, the current state of scientific researches in the field of breeding, technologies of cultivation, harvesting and processing of industrial hemp and flax-fiver is shown.

The investigation of thinning of a layer of the long-fibred flax stems in a channel with adjustable cross-section

The rise in the proportion of long fiber in the commodity output of the primary processing enterprises of the fiber flax is an important task, the solution of which is necessary to increase the efficiency of the flax growing. More than half of the losses of long fiber cause a poor quality of preparation of a layer of flax retting to the processing. The technological processes of the existing layer preparation technology can not be adapted to the changed raw material parameters for the roll-up harvesting of the flax. In this regard, the urgency of the development of individual processes and a new technology in general for the preparation of a layer fed to the milling machine of the production line. The main technological process of layer preparation is its thinning. The linear density of the initial layer varies widely. To bring it to a technologically rational value, the equipment must provide a regulation of the coefficient of thinning. It is possible to provide this by using a thinning channel with adjustable cross-section. For its justification in the investigations the aim has been set to determine the influence of the structural and technological factors on the coefficient of thinning of the layer of flax. The investigations were carried out using active experiments on the prototype of this type of thinning channel created in VNIIML. The independent factors were: the linear density of the initial layer; linear velocity of the layer at the output from the thinning channel; height of the channel at the input and output from it. Two versions of the channel implementation are used: from one type of toothed discs with a number of teeth of 40 pieces.; combined - from two types of discs in equal proportion to the number of teeth 40 and 48 pcs. A significant influence on the thinning coefficient of the channel height layer at the input and output, as well as the linear density of the initial layer is determined. The possibility of adjusting the coefficient of thinning the layer by changing the cross-section of the thinning channel. It is established that the number of teeth on the thinning disks and the structure of the thinning channel exert a significant influence on the process of thinning the layer in the channels with free fixation of the stems. Mathematical models that adequately describe the influence on the coefficient of thinning of the investigated factors are presented. Conclusions are formulated about rational parameters of the thinning channel with a controlled cross-section and the expediency of its application for the thinning of the layer of flax.

Льноводство Тюменской области: историографический аспект

The article is devoted to the history of flax growing. In the historiographical aspect the experience of understanding the development of flax growing as a branch of agriculture of the Tyumen region is considered. The material was the texts of articles, essays, publications in periodicals, scientific literature, collections of documentary materials on flax growing for the period from the end of 19 th to the beginning of 21 st centuries. The paper presents an analysis of the historical conditions in the Tobolsk (Tyumen) province, region later. The chronological period covered is characterized as complicated both from the point of view of the events reflected in the literature and from the point of view of the historiographical state of the problem. The historiographical review identifies three main periods: pre-revolutionary, Soviet and modern. It is shown that each of them had its own individual features. Revolution, civil war, years of collectivization, repeated reorganization of agriculture, excessive ideologization of all aspects of society life determined the content, direction, volume of literature on this issue. The authors identified the most recognized and authoritative points of view, assessments of the development of flax growing in the Tyumen region, confirmed the importance of research in the history of flax growing as a branch of agriculture in the Tyumen region for the modern period.

Linase lapsesärgi taasloomine: uurimiskäik ja tööprotsess / Recreating children’s linen shirt: the course of research and the process of work

Shirts form a part of Estonian folk costume. Shirts have been mainly made of linen in Estonian areas. About a century ago, the custom of wearing homemade traditional clothing disappeared, as a result of industrial development. Nowadays, there is no practical need to make traditional linen shirts for children. This article focuses on the process of making linen shirts in a situation in which several crucial steps in their production, such as flax growing and processing, and the creation of homespun linen fabrics, have ceased to exist. I adopted a practical work process as my research method, since this allowed me to gain firsthand experience of the problems encountered when sewing shirts. In parallel to this process of practical work, I collected information for analysis from historical sources and literature (archival material, museum pieces, memories). Craft professionals aided me in the selection of the best techniques.
 During the work process, I sought answers to the following questions: How does the aim of creating a shirt affect the choices one makes during the work process? What are the possible technological methods one can use to achieve this? How does the use of different materials and techniques affect the visual similarity between the recreated artefact and the original? Do these techniques make the item more comfortable to wear or less so?
 Taking the example of a shirt belonging to the collection of historical folk costume preserved in the Estonian National Museum (a woman’s shirt (ERM 18238) originating from Tori Parish), I created two children’s shirts. The aims that were set prior to sewing those two shirts differed. The linen fabrics that were used and the approaches to cuts and to sewing techniques were different. While the shirts are similar to the original in general terms, their details reveal variation which stems from their different materials and work techniques.
 Estonian folk costume shirts were usually white. Since it is very difficult to dye linen fabrics with natural dyeing agents because of the properties of flax fibre, bleaching in sun was typically used when processing linen fabrics. However, the process of bleaching resulted in something we nowadays perceive as somewhat grey, a colour far from the so-called yellow-tinted ‘natural white’, and further still from snowy white.
 According to historical sources, it was the sewing of and cutting out of the shirt from the fabric which were the most significant stages of the whole process. The written records reveal that many various prophecies were thought to lie in the act of sewing. When examining the shirts in detail, it is possible to describe the techniques and tools that have been used to create them.
 The theoretical part of the article concentrates on shirts as meaningful artefacts and does so from a semiotic perspective. The practical part gives a detailed overview of the process of sewing two shirts, by sewing one of them by hand and the other with the help of a sewing machine; one of them was made from linen fabric that had been handwoven on looms at home, while the other was made from modern enzyme-treated material.
 The choice of embroidery threads and sewing techniques was determined by the materials. All work procedures had to be assessed in accordance with the thickness of threads, the relations between warp and weft, and the softness of the fabric. Cuts, and the possible need for making adjustments, also needed to be considered. For example, placing a sleeve that has a selvedge as one of its edges on to a fabric is more economical in terms of material loss than the simple narrow sleeve cut that is used nowadays, where the warp thread runs along the centre line of the sleeve. I experimented with various options when sewing the collar and front parts together. However, it became evident that the solution that was visually less robust did not allow the brooch to stay in its correct position near the throat.
 To conclude, changes made during the work process must not be arbitrary ones. Technological development and changing needs have resulted in the partial adjustment or change of the materials, techniques and cuts.
 Keywords: folk costume, children’s clothing, shirts, sewing, linen fabrics, technology

THE IMAGE OF FLAX IN FOLKLORE AND LITERATURE: PSKOV AND LATGALE FRONTIER

The article presents reflections on flax as a floral symbol of Pskov land and Latgale. The folklore of neighbouring lands describes how flax was grown, processed and used for ritual purposes as a protective charm against negative energy. The semantics of flax reflects the archaic character of the homeland in the cultural knowledge of the people of the Pskov-Latgale frontier and their loyalty to tradition.Flax has always been the main field plant and source of income in frontier lands of Pskov and Latgale. In the world market the most valuable flax among all other types of Baltic and Belorussian flax was Pskov flax fibre.In the flax growing territories long-lasting folklore traditions were set up, which indicates that flax has always had not only practical but also a symbolic meaning for the peoples of the Baltic States, Belarus and Russia. In the territory of Pskov region the crop fertility rites were practised to ensure the flax crops, for example, horse riding for “tall flax”. Flax fibre was considered to be an amulet, a protection from negative energy. Flax linen sheets were used during childbirth in Latgale, in Pskov land the afterbirth was wrapped in it and given to the midwife; the sick children were wrapped up in the flax prayer tablecloth, etc.In Russian folklore in the territory of Latgale flax growing and flax processing are frequently reflected in couplets (chastushkas), riddles and lyrical songs. Flax is the symbol of strength and persistence. Numerous contacts on frontier territories have contributed to the plot commonalities of fairy and non-fairy prose, e. g. flax can save man from the evil spirit. Such plots are registered both in the territory of Pskov region and Latgale. The image of flax left the realm of folklore for literature, which is common for both Pskov and Latgale.Latvian poets create a vivid image of “flax crop fields” which reflect the landscape peculiarity of Latgale. Quite often the image of flax crop fields brings them back the memories about their past life (V. Krāslavietis, P. Antropov – O. Alekseyev). So V. Krāslavietis remembers his native Latgale with the blue lakes, where blue flax is growing, where he rides to visit someone on a horse of cheerful memories. Flax often takes Pskov writers on a journey into the memory (O. Alekseyev, L. Malyakov).There is an inseparable link of flax with the landscape of Latgale and with the people living there. A. Kūkojs marks parallelism in his daughter’s appearance: curly and thin as Latgalian flax is daughter’s hair. Pskov poet O. Alekseyev uses such comparisons to reveal the power and tenderness of the folk soul.At the same time flax is associated with human character and soul of people, who are known for such typical traits as hard work and holiness, sufferings and belief. Purity and tenderness of flax corresponds to the shyness of Latgalian girls (Madsolas J.). Latgale is portrayed as a barefoot “orphan girl” who endures patiently life hardships “under the grey woolen sky” among “the fields covered with flax stalks” (A. Kūkojs).For the Russian writers (immigrants who used to live in Pskov land and were attracted to it and associated Pskov with Russia) flax symbolizes unbreakable bond of times and loyalty to the traditions of Pskovites (L. Zurov). The image of flax in literature can be not only visual but olfactory as well. Poet Y. Ivask recalls Pskov with its “retted autumn flax”. Stinking smell, “repelling, but healing stench” has the highest spiritual value for the homesick poet. Not the beauty of the blue flax but its repelling stench is taken by the poet as a gift – as it cleanses the spirit.For Pskov writers of the second half of the 20th century flax field also symbolises the Motherland (S. Zolotsev, E. Borisov, A. Аbrosimov) – “golden” and happy, despite the grief periods. The flax field causes them to contemplate, feel tenderness and sadness. The loss of flax, which is the floral symbol of the native land, has been lately regarded by our contemporaries as a break with traditions and oblivion of the past (Е. Еrmak).Flax in the literature of Pskov and Latgale is the symbol of the Motherland. It acts as a human being and embodies natural beauty and persistence. In Latgalian poetry the image of flax supports the myth about people who suffer or are orphans, who are hardworking and selfless. In Pskov literature flax depicts fading patriarchal character of the native land; no wonder Pskov is called the land of “flaxen Rus” (V. Sergeyeva).

Льноводство – точка роста экономики севера Омской области

The article deals with the state of flax growing development in the Omsk region. The main problems of flax production was considered. The ways of increasing the effectiveness of flax-growing in the region were founded.