FLAX DISEASE.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 June 1923, Page 1

FLAX DISEASE.

YELLOW LEAF TROUBLE. STATEMENT CONTROVERTED. To a “New Zealand Times” representative’ Air Alfred Seifert, Palmerston North, president of the New Zealand Flaxmillers’ Association, said: — “In the issue of tho ‘Now Zealand Times’ of June Ist, there is an interview by Air William Ross which, in effect, expresses the opinion that the yellow leaf disease has been brought about by overdrainiitg tho swamp and grazing cattle. “As Air William Ross Is so wellknown in the flaxmilling world, I think his opinions are calculated to carry some weight, and as I am convinced that his opinion is wrong, I would like to place my views before your readers. “In the first place flax would not grow in any of the swamps in tlie Alanawatu until they were drained. After the drains were put in the land sank, which necessitated making the drains again and again. Tt is only by this means that a crop of flax lias been obtained. I invite those who hold the opinion that the disease is due to overdrainngc, to inspect several areas in the Alanawatu. They will find that the flax crop is the heaviest and the healthiest where the land is well drained. The fact of the matter is that drainago has not been the cause of the disease. AA’e can find the yellow leaf disease in flax growing on very well drained ground, and also on badly drained ground. The first time I noticed the disease was on ground which appeared to lie too wet. The next time was on very dryground. All my observations have gone to prove that drainago has not been a factor in causing this disease, hut to grow a good crop of flax the drains must bo sufficiently deep to take the water several inches below the surface.

"As regards cattle. AYherc the di sease was most destructive cattle liavnever been grazed. In the area 1 control the part that was grazed the least got the yellow leaf disease sn badly that we cultivated the land and grassed it. AYherens another portion which lias been grazed by a few cattle between November and Alarcb for the last sixteen years, is extremely healthy. This, I know, looks as if cattle prevent disease, but T am of the opinion that it is not a factor cither way. Of course, all people know tha* the quickest way to destroy flax is *o graze heavily with cattle, especially (hiring the autumn and winter months, but all flax growers know this so well that they have not made the mistake of damaging their crop bv stock. V A I,D A BLE EXPERTMEAINTAL AY OR TC. “As regards the experimental worn, which is discredited by Mr Ross, ) am afraid lie has not taken sufficient trouble to understand tlie object in view. It lias been noticed in areas of flax badly damaged by disease, that some plants remained healthy, showing that these have immunity. “Several millers, believing that to preserve the flax industry it wilt be necessary to cultivate the raw incite ria 1, have subscribed money to a fund, to select seed from the best plants, to select the various varieties of flax and plant in a nursery for the purpose of keeping them under observation to see which variety is the most disease resisting and will yield the highest percentage and best quality of fibre, because people will not undertake cultivation unless they are sure that the flax planted will resist the dLease and yield a good percentage ol the right quality fibre. "This work has been carried on lot nearly two years, practically by voluntary subscriptions, with tho addition of .f]s:l from the Ooveriumict, and tremendous progress Inis been made, but to get the full value of the work already done the experiments should be continued for a few years. " The work being carried out i • aft.-r rhe same nit: tiro as is adoptee for improving slot k. \\ e are out t ' get items that will iv-J-t ib-en-e. inn

will yield a high percentage of fibre of a -to d quality, and plants that w-.b mature early. To fin-1 the e. nun-. r plants under observation in order t : find v i.ich is the best. Ait this i very simple, but it is bv the-e simple method - that the flax industry can 1). made one of the n o prosperous in the Don-ini: tt. In ad mini! to rarry itlg nut research work for the above by month, to til’d the be-l time oi tn year to .vow. Tltc-e seedling planthave been plumed again to find -.hiproper distance they should be plante.’ apart, and to see bow quickly they will mature. "AA’hile this work is being carried on, our expert has made many observations on the flax plant', winch ha-.; been carefully recorded, and which will he of incalculable benefit to future investigators. "Instead of discrediting the win-:-: that, tho Now Zealand I'Taxmillers’ Association i- carrying out. all a-sistanee shoe' : tt. "I; is :• remarkable thing that, th- ugh tlie New Zealand flax plant i ; a native of New Zealand, it lias been entirely in- lent d by p him-breeders. AA ’iat if our dairy cow- bail been neglected in the same way? AAV would now have a mi -''able breed oi wiki <*:utle that would not average more than 851 b of butter-fat per annum instead of 3001 b. which is now quite common. The '-ame remarks apply to al! oilier steel:.