THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2551, 12 June 1882, Page 4

THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

[FBOM THE “ WEEKLY PBBS3.”J In another column will be found a communication from Mr John Davis, of Wairos, an experienced flax dresser. Mr Davis has ■ucceeded in inducing eereral land proprietors in Hawke's Bay to make arrangements for sowing a considerable urea of flax in the coming season. The object ot bis ■visit to Canterbury is to induce, if possible, our Canterbury farmers to give the thing a fair trial. Mr Davis’s idea is that we should export the fibre to the Home market, retaining only the tow, for spinning into harvesting twine, holding that the former would command, if properly prepared, a higher price in the Home market than could possibly be realised for the article here. We are not disposed to dispute this point, except so for as to assert that the fibre from a largo quantity of the crop, grown as it probably would be in Canterbury, could not be expected to produce fibre other than that suitable for twine making purposes. We understand that it is Hr Davis’ intention to address the Canterbury farmers on this subject at various places, due notice of which will be given in our advertising columns, when he will lay before the public his suggestions, which we trust will be so conclusive as to induce many to put in a reasonable breadth of the crop this coming season. We have, before now, drawn attention to this -Subject. Several efforts have been made to start a company, without any great success so far. Still we are sanguine that the time has arrived when we should at least make the attempt. The condition of things has never been more favorable. Our farmers are gradually becoming alive to the importance of the crop. A largo local demand for the fibre as well as the seed has sprung up. The successful shipment of fresh meat to England must increase the demand for feeding stuffs, consequently a local demand for cake. The manufacture of oil has already been started in Otago, and that of fibre must soon follow. The woollen industry and many others which have sprung up in the colony within the last few years have moat of them succeeded. There is now every reason to hope that European flax in its various phases, will bo added to the growing list of our important industries. The value of the flax crop to the Irish farmer, and the influence which the extension of the linen manufacture has exerted on the prosperity of Ulster are strongly illustrated in the history of the once insignificant town of Belfast, which has become the linen metropolis of Ireland, with a busy population of 230,000 inhabitants. Sixty years ago this town did not possess a single spinning mill. Of the 835,951 spindles now at work in Ireland more than three-fourths belong to Belfast. In almost every street of the town palace-like warehouses are springing up in the place of old dingy offices. The area devoted to the flax plant in 1880 amounted to 157,531 acres, while in 1809 only 35,050 were produced in Ireland, Even the former large area cannot nearly supply the demand which now exists, and which is being supplied by foreign nations, Lint, properly prepared, is as saleable in the Homo market as wool or wheat. A writer in a recent number of the “ Melbourne Leader ” strongly advocates the growth of flax for seed and lint, and gives numerous instances of experimental crops

grown in many parts of Victoria, thus proving the suitability of many districts for the growth of flax. Oue experimenter remarks on its wonderful ability to withstand the drought as compared with oats. The writsr referred to is quite correct when he asserts that “ the chief hindrance to the growth of flax as a fibre crop in Victoria is the want of centrally situated scutching mills,” which remark applies equally to ourselves. The process of preparing the 11-x can bo performed by individual growers, out central mills must bo provided to make the industry a success. The prepare tioa of the soil, and ths sowing of the seed, is not more expensive than that required for wheat. If the land is well pre pared, laid out in broad lands, and loft with a smooth surface after sowing, the crop may he cut by machinery with little waste of fibre. ;It has been suggested that a grass seed stripper might bo used for removing the seed capsules before cutting. This ex periment might be tried, but our own opinion is that it would not answer, for reasons patent to those familiar with the habit of the plant. Wo have good cause for expecting to see a machine produced by local ingenuity at our next Agricultural Society’s show which will thresh and clean the seed, at the same time preserving the straw intact. The perfecting of this ides, and the successful working of the _ Vegetable Fibre Company’s machine, which breaks and scutches the flax at one operation, will render the preparation of flax fibre comparatively inexpensive. The demand for fibre is practically unlimited, so that, however many may avail themselves of the new industry, there will bo no fear of the fibre or oil becoming a drug in the market. We are glad to observe by our northern files that it has been resolved to form a linseed company at Patea, which ia to be called the Patea Oil and Fibre Manufacturing Company, Limited, with a capital of £3OOO, in 600 £5 shares. Lot us hope that Canterbury will not be found lagging. Those desirous of promoting a new and lucrative industry should avail themselves of the presence of Mr Davis, who is thoroughly acquainted with the details connected with the homo and colonial aspect of the question, thereby they would develop an industry second to none in the colony. The following is the letter referred to : A WOBD TO TUB AGRICULTURISTS OP CANTERBURY. TO THE EDITOR OP THE WEEKLY PBBBB- -, —Having once or twice before experienced your kindness in giving publicity through your columns to my views on the above subject, I beg again to trespass on your valuable space in order to address a few remarks to the agriculturists of Canterbury province. I have heard a great deal of the fertility of your plains, but now that I am on the spot I am better able to judge, and I am fully convinced that the agriculturists of Canterbury could not do better than go in for flax growing. I will now give a few of my reasons for so doing. Recent .experiments made by mo in Hawke’s Bay have clearly demonstrated to my mind the fact that the soil of New Zealand is admirably adapted for the growth of European flax. No one will, I think, dispute this assertion. I therefore dismiss it, and proceed to consider the quality of the fibre that our soil is able to produce, the facilities which our climate affords for preparing it, the value of the crop to the community at large, and lastly, the demand. As regards the quality of the fibre, I have before informed your readers that under a very rough test I produced a fibre equal to a good medium Home eafnplo, worth from £6O to £65 per ton. With greater care in selection o! seed, mode of cultivation, preparation, &3., this sample would in all probability have fetched from £9O to £IOO in the Home market. The markets vary, of course, but I feel convinced the samples I speak of would hold their own anywhere in their class. Now, as regards the value of the crop to the country. The establishment of flux culture does not moan the acquisition of wealth by one or two persons to the exclusion of the many, as in sheep farming, for instance. No, it means the employment of a large number of men, women, and children; it means a largely-increased industrial population, without which no country can be truly prosperous. Flax growing means the influx of foreign capital, and consequently an increased stimulus to trade generally. One hundred sores of flax prepared for fibre alone is worth at the lowest computation £2IOO. If half of this sum goes to the grower, and the other half is expended in labor, would it not mean a great deal. Magnify this 100 acres into 10,000 and see what the result would be. Why the country would soon be settled with the best of settlers—small farmers and working men—the backbone of England, and a class to whom little encouragement is shown in this colony. The value of any crop to a community is judged by the amount of money it circulates among those who produce the raw article—the working classes—and in the case of flax this consideration is fulfilled, for at least half the gross value is returned to the working classes. As New Zealand oannot hope, for a time, to rank as a manufacturing country, the local demand for flax will not bo great, except for rope and twine-making. For these purposes the broken fibre and rougher samples can be employed. Each 600 tons of fibre will give about 100 tons of waste for rope and twine making. We must then, for a time at least, dispose of our produce in the Home markets. Let us now see to what extent the demand exists. Ireland grows to to the extent of £2,000,000 annually, yet Groat Britain has to import flax from Russia to the value of £3,000,000 a year; and wo may safely inter, that from Holland, Belgium and the continent importation is carried on to, perhaps, a similar extent. Need wo, therefore, fear that New Zealand can glut the market. I think not, and so long as our colony takas her manufactured goods from Great Britain, so long will she take our raw productions in exchange. For the information of those who may purpose embarking in this industry, I subjoin the following estimates : Cost of Producing One Acre of Flax. £ s. d Rent and taxes ... ... ... 2 0 0 Ploughing ... 0 12 0 Rolling and harrowing 0 15 0 Seed, 3 bushels at 10s (the usual quantity sown for fine fibre) ... 1 10 0 Stripping seed, mowing and carting 2 10 0 Retting and grassing ... ... 2 0 0 Crushing, scutching and packing for export at average yield of 5£ cwt. per acre 2 15 0 Total cost £l2 2 0 Return from One Acre of Flax. £ s. d. cwt. fibre at 60s per cwt. ... 16 10 0 24 bushels seed at 6s 7 4 0 Total return £23 14 0 Deduct cost of crop ... 12 2 0 Not profit per acre ...£lll3 0 It will be seen therefore that the cost of producing one acre of flax is £l2 2s, while the gross return amounts to £23 14s, thus leaving a net profit per acre of £ll 12s, without taking into account the tow, which would probably add 20s per acre to the profit. Can the fanners of Canterbury say the same for wheat or oats ? With regard to plant and labor I estimate as follows : Cost of 14 stock Mill. £ e. d. Patent rollers (for crushing) ... 35 0 0 Mill (for cleaning) 180 0 0 Press (tor packing) 50 C 0 Buildings (sheds) ... ... 200 0 0 Steam engine ... ... ... 300 0 0 765 0 fi Return for Nine Months, £ s. d. 30 tons per month, at £lO per ton 2700 0 0 Deduct labor (two-thirds estimated) ... ... 1800 0 0 Balance for mill owner ... ... 900 0 0 Deduct cost of coal and oil, wear and tear,.. ... 400 0 0 Clear profit on nine months’ work ... ... ... ... 500 0 0 These figures, I think, speak for themselves, and in closing I beg to state that I am now making a tour of your district, and, as will be seen by an advertisement elsewhere in the Pbess, I am prepared to meet tha Canterbury farmers at any time or place that may bo agreed on, and explain to them fully the matters touched on in my circular, and ia the letters already addressed to them through your columns. I shall also be prepared to put any reasonable area through the retting process, which is undoubtedly the chief point in the preparation of the fibre, beside

making arrangements for the importation of machinery. I trust I hare not trespassed too largely on your space, and trust my mission to Christchurch may result in our mutual advantage. Yours, &c., John Davis.