The Flax Industry.

Manawatu Herald, 8 October 1896, Page 2

The Flax Industry.

A fresh gleam of hope has arisen in connection with the flax industry. It consists of something very different from the revived interest now manifesting itself in New Zealand, though thafc, too, is, in its way, a thing of good omen. The ramie gras3 is similar in fibre to New Zealand flax, for it is so resinous that scutching has a very inadequate effect upon it. Large rewards for a process to overcome this drawback have been offered in India, as in New Zealand itself, in the case of flax, and at last a German chemist,

named Gomess, appears to have succeeded in so far as the ramie grass of India is concerned. It is stated that " the Gomess process adopts zincate of coda for the elimination of the resins, and effects it without the slightest injury to the fibre. After the ' ribbons 'or Btrips of bark have been freed from dirt, they are placed in weak acid baths for a night. Next morning they are passed through a mild alkaline bath, and then boiled in weak solutions of caustic soda to which zinc has been added. When washed and dried by the usual mechanical means, the fibres emerge as a long, silky filasse, entirely free from the cuticle and resinous gums in which fcbey were imbedded— clean, white, and ready for the comb of the spinner. They take most beautiful dyes, and can be worked into every variety of fabrics from gorgeous velvets to cheap drills and delicate laces." Should this prove applicable to New Zealand flax, the industry in that connection which promised so much a few years ago, but turned out so badly, may yet be revived with great advantage to the country. No doubt tb.e matter will, ere long, be put to the test of practical experiment.— Advocate.