CULTIVATION OF EUROPEAN FLAX.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2529, 17 May 1882, Page 4

CULTIVATION OF EUROPEAN FLAX.

[By TBiiEOKAPH.! WAIBOA, May 16. The public meeting re the above called by the chairman of the County Council on Saturday night was largely attended by owners and business men. Mr Davis addressed the meeting, pointing out the value of European flax as a general crop, also the practicability of growing ithore. The speaker gave an estimate of the probable yield and cost, pointing out that if the Wairoa settlers would bo unanimous to sow about 2000 acres o? flax, two mills might bo established, one at Turiroa, and the other at Tekapu. The soil was excellent, and water for retting abundant. The total cost of two four-stock mills with patent rollers, with threshing machines and engines, he

estimated at £1 CO. Flax in the Irish market* at the present date tul©a from 50s to 72* Gd per owt. He thought farmers need have no difficulty or fear in starting the industry. He spoie from practical experience, and ' quoted the Press c£ Hawke’s Bay and Christchurch for continue tion of hie expressed opinions. With regard to Wairoa, he should like to see flax growing started. If the far mers of Wairoa agreed to go into the industry he would put their crops through the “ retting” process the same time as he put through Mesera J- kf. Williams and Farmer’s crop?. They have been the first to take up the matter in the Hawke’s Bay district, the seed being already ordered. The following resolution wao carried—--11 That a provisional committee be appointed to ascertain what area of land farmers will guar- | antee to put down in flix, and if that area be sufficient to warrant it, machinery shall be imported.” The following -constituted the committee with power to add to their number : —Messrs J. Gemmell, Carroll, Duff, Moloney and Ooupor, J. Powdrell, Thorpe and William*. There is some probability of a company being formed almost immediately to purchase seed and machinery.