THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1101, 27 May 1913, Page 3

THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Generally speaking, the quality of phormium hemp graded last month was an improvement on that of the previous month, a higher percentage of good fair being shipped, but both the fibre and the method of preparation still leave much to be desired. The improvement has been noticeable in stripping, scutching, colour and strength. Certainly a good proportion of the leaf being milled, owing to its diseased condition, has not enabled anything but a fair pointing fibre to be milled from it. No doubt the reason for the improved character of the better lines, coining forward has been the more careful sorting ot the hemp at the scutching bars. Instead of baling all qualities in the most promiscuous manner, as was the case with much of the hemp forwarded for grading for a good part of this season, the better qualities were separated out from the inferior, and thus provided material for uniform lines of a satisfactory grade. More than one line which last month was only reaching a fair grade, owing to the high percentage of inferior fibre present, has this mouth been scoring as high as 76 points, owing to the elimination of the poorer quality. Thus, in place ot the whole output of the mills in question being graded a high pointed fair, the greater proportion of the fibre is now going into good fair, with the smaller proportion grading fair, mostly high point (65), but in some cases low point (63). While improvement has taken place, there are individual cases where a very poor standard of work continues, due in several instances to inexperienced stripperkeepers being employed, who are unable to keep the stripper up to its proper standard of work. With poorly stripped leaf no after process can remedy the trouble.

In one or two instances a desirable grade is being lost owing to the unsatisfactory leaf being worked with —the leaf varying

greatly in length—and no attempt being made to remedy the trouble by the simple procedure of sorting the leaf.

Several lines affected by the flooding of the drying fields have come to hand. Here there is no remedy. The fibre must be graded down.

Hawke’s Bay fibre continues to be of an excellent standard. Out of 277 bales ol fibre graded last month no less than 132 reached a fine grade. Marlborough fibre is also of gratifying quality. Of 669 bales graded, 26 were superior and 2xl fine. Certainly, a good leaf is available in both these provinces, while the majority of the mills are doing excellent work. —Mr W. H. Ferris in the Journal of the Department of Agriculture.

APRIL GRADING RETURNS. Hemp. The total number of bales graded was 18,620 as compared with 9,169 for the corresponding month of last year, an increase of 9,451 bales. For the twelve months ended 30th April, 1913, the number of bales graded was 129,993, as compared with 88,375 for the previous twelve months, the increase being 41,618 bales. The number of bales graded at each port was : Wellington 5836, Foxton 4590, Auckland 4273, Bluff 1890, Dunedin 730, Picfon 669, Blenheim 301, Napier 277 and Lyttelton 54. The number of bales in the different grades at each port was; Good Port. Fine. Fair. Fair. Com.

At Auckland 76 bales, Foxlon 17, Wellington 25 were rejected. At Blenheim 2 bales and at Picton 26 bales graded superior and 54 bales at Wellington were, condemned. Tow. During the month 6,230 bales were dealt with, as compared With 2,474 for the corresponding month of last year, an increase of 3,75® bales. For the twelve months ending 30th April, i9 l 3< the number of bales graded was 44,689, as compared with 24,317 for the previous twelve months, the Increase being 20,372 bales. The tow dealt with graded as under

Stripper Sups. At Auckland ,38 bales, Napier 7> Foxton 583, Wellington 524, Blenheim 6, Picton 15, Lyttelton 12, Dunedin 7 and Bluff 80 were passed for shipment, and at Auckland 10 bales, Wellington 80 bales and Bluff 47 bales were condemned.

Auckland — 904 2,688 605 Napier 132 116 8 21 Foxton — 764 3,277 532 Wellington — 1,803 3,588 366 Blenheim 3i 213 57 — Picton 211 84 145 203 Lyttelton 20 34 — — Dunedin — 227 503 — Bluff — 245 i,5*5 ,130

6 Sec’nd Grade. Third Grade. Port. First Grac cs 0 U •>-* 0 H Auckland 55 451 i,2io 104 1,820 Napier — 26 29 — 55 Foxton 36 694 249 3 982 Wellingtonazs 1,206 542 36 2,009 Blenheim 41 13 21 — 75 Picton 119 49 i°4 — 272 Lyttelton ■ 23 — — 23 Dunedin — ■ 79 105 6 190 Bluff 7 260 438 99 S04