The oil is used for paints, printers ink, and in making cotton. The flax fibre is used in making linen thread from which is made everything from fine linen lace, handkerchiefs, table cloths, to sails, mail bags

and, in Europe, “Horse Covers”, or large canvasses to cover trucks. It is much stronger and more durable than cotton canvas.

The Acadians were the first people to grow flax in this province. The 1752 Acadian census records that flax was grown in the Bedeque area. Flax was grown extensively on the Island in the early days and many samples of home made linen articles attest to the resourcefulness of the early settlers. Homespun table cloths and clothing were among the articles found in every old Island home. The early implements used to process the flax, breakers, scutching knives, heckles, looms, etc., are still being found.

Flax declined as a farm crop during the mid 1800’s but some tried to resurrect it today as a viable crop. The P.E.I. Agriculturist for 2 April, 1888 tells of an attempt. “A number of farmers in Prince County have last year grown a considerable quantity of flax experimentally, with a view to test it as a viable crop?’ In that era Flax seed was used for horse feed. It gave them a beautiful shining coat, and also as cattle feed.

Zeger Salome came to P.E.I. from Holland in the 19505 and started up a feed processing plant at Ross’s Corner - now the Gardiner Feed Mill. He was interested in flax and for several years grew test plots of fibre flax, the seed of which he obtained from his native country. He tried to interest the Provincial and Federal Governments in the project but for various reasons did not succeed. However, he had many farmer contacts,

and he convinced many of these that indeed flax could be grown here. Our climate was very suitable for the production of this crop.

Public meetings were held at the Freetown-Birch Grove Hall and out of these the decision was made to establish a company for the purpose of growing and processing flax for its fibre content.

Thus was formed the P.E.I. Flax Industries Ltd., with Horace Wright of Lower Bedeque as President, Zeger Salome as Secretary and Melis Visser and Fred Paynter as Directors. Their Counsel was a Summerside lawyer Alex B. Campbell, who later became Premier of the Province. The main share holders were Horace Wright and Fred Paynter.

Andrew Jardme and Hazel (Jardme) Cal/beck wrth trophies and Ribbons won at Borden Fox Show, 1938.

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