THE CULTIVATION OF FLAX.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3104, 9 June 1881, Page 4

THE CULTIVATION OF FLAX.

Tbe following description of some experiments in the cultivation of flax in the Upper Gtoulburn district; Victoria ia supplied to the Melbourne Weekly Times : I selected a small portion of my paddo,ok, "which is situated on the river flat, an,d which had been previously cultivated , (virgin soil being unsuitable for flax culture), and ploughed it about 4in deep in June, turning it over again in the September following, in order to clean it thoroughly. Seed of the York variety was obtained in Melbourne at a cost of 9d per lb (it is now, I believe, only 4d per lb), and I sowed it at the rate of two bushels per acre. The flax was fit for harvesting at the expiration of three or four months, —the latter period being the usual time if the seed is required, and the former if only the flax is wanted. I allowed mine to ripen, and, so to speak, was enabled to take off a double crop, although tho system is deprecated by some growers in the old country on the supposition that by its adoption the quality of the flax is rather deteriorated. Hand-labour was employed in pulling the flax, and after taking the seed off, I prepared the fibre in the usual way, after which I forwarded a sample to Melbourne, and was offered from £50 to £60 per ton for any quantity of the like quality as the sample. Tho yield of linseed ■was in the proportion of ] 61b to every pound sown, and of dressed flax at the rate of &jw* per acre. At a rough guess, the eoefe »• acre of producing a crop of flax »\&' i jCV estimated as follows :—Clearing $r ' / bo paring the soil, cost of seeci P'' e " threshing, £1 • preparing t> . &c, £7; other expenses, £Q 10a ; ac fibre !lncl, reckoning tho cost of tiivt- ' tota l> without auctioneer's • •'".'" " a ft° to market and per acre ' is^lt jU on sale, £U 10s ie . As this there is a yield of _ o oushels of seed ftn j 4 cw fc o f flax per acre. Taking tl- c formcl . a t 3d per pound, which price I 'obtained for it, and the latter in the ratio * o f £60 per ton, it will be found that the to;tal amounts to £22 10s per acre, from "which, after deducting the cost, £14 10s, a net profit is obtained of £8 por acre. Out of this, however, it must bo remcnVbercd that cartage, l'ailway freight, and sale email's charges are to be taken.