PROFIT IN FLAX.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4860, 3 August 1925, Page 4

PROFIT IN FLAX.

BASIS FOR A. GREAT INDUSTRY.

RETURNS FROM SWAMP LAND.

(By

George Smerle.)

The phormium tenax industry—that is to say, the growth of our native flax and fabrication of its fibre —its the oldest industry in New Zealand. Long before the arrival of the pakeha the Maoris had developed the industry to a high degree of perfection. Since the industry was taken over by white men there has been a great falling away from the standards set by the Maoris, but scientific investigation is now pointing the way to tarreaching improvements in the cultivation of phormium and the commercial manufacture of its fibre. The Maoris knew many varieties of phormium. According to the late Sir James Hector they were acquainted with as many as 42. Anyone who has taken some interest in the industry knows that we are to-day far behind the Maori in growing suitable varieties and preparing the fibre. Perhaps it may not be possible to dress the leaves by machinery and produce as good a fibre ,as the Maori did by hand-dressing, but the quality of the product can be raised if we follow the example set by the Maori in selecting the most suitable varieties. Why is it that the industry has been so neglected by those concerned in it? The answer, I think, is that the flax gave sufficient profit in its wild state, and that when it died out in consequence of bad cutting and cattle grazing on it the land was utilised for cattle farming or cropping, and nobody thought any more about it. PHORMIUM AS A FARM CROP. Phormium, if planted in the proper way, even in soil that has not been ploughed, will give in the third year after planting about three tons of leaf per acre. This yield will mcraese every year, and in the tenth year after planting a yield of about 25 tons per acre wil} be obtained. This amount will continue to 1 be produced for many years to come. The writer was shown a wild growing flaxblock which had been cut for sixty years, and istill showed a flourishing and luxuriant growth. In Whitaunui, Manawatu, on an experimental plot of four acres, about 25 tons of leaf, were cut per acre after an interval of nine months. Thirty-two tests were made in different localities, and the resultis obtained show that it is possible to grow 40 tons of leaf per acre. The fibre content in the different varieties varies very much: in the Manawatu, from 2.5 to 18 per cent. • around Waikanae-Otaki, from 10 to 22 per cent.; in Hahaka-Martinbor-ough, from 9 to 20 per cent.; and on the Hauraki Plains fourteen varieties range from 8 to 18 per cent. There may be varieties with a higher fibre content than 22 per cent., but I have ■hot had an opportunity of selecting varieties all over the country. WHAT SELECTION WOULD MEAN. The present fibre .average In milling ranges from 12 to 13 per cent., and. if we take an 18 per cent, variety for comparison with, the 13 per cent, the result would be as, follows : The cost of cutting 100' tons of leaf of the 13 per cent, variety at 16s per ton is £BO. It will cost no more to cut the 18 per cent, variety. The carting and stripping costs for both varieties are also similar. .In the caise of the 18 per cent, variety there would be

an additional cost of about' 5s per ton for paddocking, scutching, freight, bale lashings, labels, etc. The additional cost of converting 100 tons, of 18 per cent, flax into fibre (as compared with 13 per cent, flax) would thus be about £25. On the other hand, if the price of fibre is taken as £25 per ton, the additional gain from 100 tons of 18 per cent, leaf, as compared with an equal quantity of 13 per cent, leaf, is £lOO. On a block of 100 acres yielding 25 tons of leaf per acre the difference in favour of the 18 per cent, variety is £2500'. Selection pays I QUANTITY WITH QUALITY. In all caseis where varieties were tested for fibre content it was found that the lower the fibre content in the leaf the poorer the quality, and the higher the fibre percentage the better the quality. Selection of the best varieties) thus means killing two birds with one stone. At present we are stripping mixed varieties, and consequently we cannot get a uniform aritcle. Fibre from .two or three leaves of an inferior variety will lower the grade of .a hank of good variety. It is the poorest fibre in the hank which determines the grade. The most expert stripper cannot produce good fair grade from a 2.5 per cent, variety. If we are to obtain a high price for our fibre we must produce it of high-grade and uniform quality. This cannot be done if mixed varieties are use. Long before the pakeha (started milling the Maori was aware of the necessity.of selecting the right kind of leaf. He used different varieties for different purposes-—for instance “Aho” and “Whinu.” One of these Was used for warp and the other as weft. PHORMIUM YIELD PER ACRE. In Miranui, Shannon, as high a yield as 23% tons of leaf per acre has been cut from a small patch of phonmiiim. In Whitiaunui 25 tons per acre have been cut. Seven and a half tons of leaf produce one ton of fibre, and consequently 20 tons, of leaf will give 2.66 tons of fibre. For easy reckoning we will take only 2% tons of fibre, and a price of £25 per ton of fibre. On this basis the wealth produced per acre is £62 10s. By the side-leaf method, the leaf may be cut after an interval' of seven to eight month’s—that is, ’three cuttings in two years. The wealth produced per acre in two years is thus £lB7 10s, or -more than £93 an acre a year. This wealth is obtained from 13.3 per cent, fibre varieties ; but supposing-we had an 18 per cent, variety instead, where is the crop except vegetables and small fruit which would come near' it ? -