In 1952 about 18,000 acres of flax were grown in Northern Ireland, but today in 2004 there is virtually no flax grown. In a small corner of Tyrone however, not far from Cookstown, the blue flower of the flax plant will be seen this summer thanks to Tullylagan Vintage Owners Association. YPAM reporter John Gregg was there on a sunny April evening when Fred Faulkner sowed about a third of an acre with the crop.

Tullylagan Vintage Owners Association have 14 acres at Berkeley's Farm, in the townland of Gallanagh (meaning white marsh) just off the Cookstown/Dungannon road, which Lafarge Blue Circle Cement Ireland Ltd allow them to rent for a minimal sum. Here the association keeps the traditional methods of farming alive.

Gunters chain When John arrived Fred Faulkner (Chairman of the Association) was handling a heavy looking chain. This chain was apparently the original method used to measure land. A 'Gunters chain' is 22 yards long (the length of a cricket pitch), with brass swivel handles at each end and is divided up into 4 perches or sections (each 5.5 yards in length) which are separated by little brass tags. Fred and another member, Robert Stewart, stretched the chain out across a grassy field. They then moved along, with the chain between them, dividing the field up into triangles (you only need to do this if the field is not square), using the chain to work out the measurements. As Fred talked about multiplying this and the square root of that, John wished he could remember more of his maths from school!!

Flax seed Flax seed is brown in colour, very fine and has a lovely silky feel to it. As he ran it through his fingers, Fred thought it felt like soft soap - not surprising really as the seed is made up of 40% oil. One Tullylagan vintage member remembered his father saying that if a horse was in poor condition, after a month feeding it on flax seed its coat would have a good shine. Fred explained to John that the plan was to sow about a third of an acre and that around half a bushel of seed should be required.

Fred Faulkner operating a fiddle

If the weather is kind, the Association aim to harvest the resulting flax crop in the autumn. Your Place & Mine will be there to record it being gathered in. Let's hope the Association's first attempt at growing flax is a great success.

Click on picture to watch flax sowing The online team donned their wellington boots, video camera in hand, to record this planting of flax in the old fashioned way. Watch the result by clicking here.