ANOTHER FLAX RIVAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 62, 6 December 1907, Page 2

ANOTHER FLAX RIVAL.

VICTORIAN AIMS. i ARE WE SELFISH? : Our special correspondent in Melbourne has bad an interview with Mr. J. Knight, the Victorian Government's export inspector. This gentleman recently spent a few weeks in New Zealand, studying tho cultivation and manufacture of New Zealand homp, and is ill charge of the flax plantation established at Leongatha, in Gippsland. Tho first year some 3500 plants were brought over from New Zealand, and last year 25,000 more were planted out. ' Sceptical about Varieties. ('Altogether our plantation is some 50 acres," said Mr. Knight, "and , it is getting on very well indeed. When I was in New Zealand I heard a great deal of talk about varieties of flax, but after having travelled all through the country, from tho Bluff to the North Capo, I foel convinced that there is really nothing to be gained by studying the varieties. One might pick out districts which give the largest amount of fibre from the smallest amount of leaf, although there is not much in that, because tho local conditions may have a great deal to do with the matter." Give the. Plants Elbow-room. "Wo planted seven acres the year before last, and it did remarkably well," continued Mr. Knightj "although plantod very late in tho season. Since then we have planted the balance of tho 50 acres, but we differ from you altogether in our methods. From our point of view, you New Zealahders ■■ plant' altogether too close. For the first few years a bettor result is got, but that is all. We think it much better to give plenty of room to the plants, and consequently we have eot them 10ft. by 10ft. That' enables the ground to be thoroughly worked, and gives the plant.a good, healthy, vigorous start. My contention is that where there is such a large quantity of fibre'annually to be taken from a plant, it is only reasonable that that plaut should have plenty of feeding-room. I believe in the' animal cutting of matured leaves in accordance with the'best practice in New Zealand. It is far better ■ to pay a little extra for the cutting, and get only the matured leaves annually. By cutting, away the whole of the leaves, young ana old, the fibre is very uneven in quality, some being over-ripe and some under-ripe. Further ( than this, it must he exceedingly bad for the plant to have-the whole of its leaves— \jts lungs, as it were—completely cut away. Reaping where we did not Sow. > "Of course, I know quite well that you in New Zealand have very different conditions from thoso likely to prevail here at any time. You reap what you did not sow, simply gathering the leaves .from the plantations Naturo lias bestowed upon you; but if I may offer the opinion I would say that such treatment or these natural resonroos seenifc very much like risking the lite of tho goose that toys the golden eggs. I saw your chief fibre expert. (Mr. Fulton) when he wa6 passing through here on his way to St. Helena, and I hope to get his advice with regard to establishing a flaxmill. Many New Zealoiidors . hold the opinion that the flax industry should be confined to their own shores. This seoms to me a very narrow view to take of the question. If Victoria is able to use, for tho cultivation of New Zealand hemp, any portion of its swamps which would othorwiso bo waste lnnd, surely Now Zealand should bo only too glad to extend a neighbourly hand of help. Our, plantation is, as I have said, only 18 months old; but I have no doiibt at all of its possibilities. All through our gardens and parks, Now Zealand flax bushes nourish in great abundance, and our sunshiny climate should enable us to copo with the drying of the flax in a much less troublesome way than, in New Zealand." Settlers are Apathetic. It may bo of interest to note that the Victorian Government repeatedly tried to

get private settlers to experiment with the New Zealand flax, offering bonuses for their so doing, but without avail. Tho plantation at Leongatha has been made entirely by the Government, at its own expense; and if it ' is successful the. Government hopes that its example will bo followed by many private settlors. Timo will prove whether or not the homp grown in Victoria is equal to the New Zealand article: but apparently the first thing for the Victorian Government to do is to demonstrate; to its Settlers that New Zealand homp is a "profitable crop for them to grow, and it will take some few years to do that.