THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1168, 6 November 1913, Page 4

THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

With the continuance of favourable weather for harvesting aud mil'ing operations the production uf fibre during the past month constituted a record for that period ot the year. Mills are generally working at high pressure, and everything points to the present season proving one of record pro Auction. While every effort is being made to turn out as much fibre as possible, quality, it is satisfactory to know, is not being neglected. With the continued lemaud for “good-fair,” and the value of this grade being on a very payable- level, millers are being encouraged to work to a bettor standard—a good thing for all concerned. Though the quality of the fibre coming forward for shipment last month was generally good, there was a decided tendency in more than one district to ship badly scutched lines. Nothing is more disheartening than to open a line of hemp from good leaf, well stripped, washed aud bleached, to find it has been so badly scutched that it must be placed iu an iuteiior grade. In one case at the Mapier port I had to grade such a line (200 bales) “fair” by reason of the very unsatisfactory scutching, though, bad this simple process bet 11 carefully done, the line would easily have reached “good fair” grads ; aud, worse to tell, the, tow from the same mill (20 bales) had to be condemned. It is quite apparent from the lines reaching the grading stores, that little trouble will be experienced this year with diseased leaf. From the wo:st-affected areas o! last season hemp is reaching the shipping ports of a clean, strong an 1 unbroken character. If the work cf milling were only more uniform and belter -supervision exercised over the conduct of the different processes, it would be possible to export practically nothing but “good- lair" quality this season. Uufc rtanately the quality of the leat does not always Aetermiue the qu dity of the resulting fibre. Several complaints have been received from manufacturers as to the want of uniformity iu certain lines of phormium hemp by reason of bad tranks being baled with belter-quality fibre, which hauks have probably escaped the notice of the grader. This is uo advertisement for the brand, aud does not lend to strengthen the grading system. It is quite impossible for the grader to inspect every hank, and he must depend to a certain extent upon the honesty of purpose ot the raeu engaged iu baling the fibre.—Mr W. H. Ferris, iu the Journal cf the Department of Agriculture.

SEPTEMBER GRADING RETURNS. HE .Mi*.

The total number of bales graded during the month of September was n.orr, as compared with 6.863 for the corresponding mouth of last year, an increase of 4,148 bales. For the twelve months ending 30th September, 1913, the number of bales graded 91,519 for the previous twelve months, the increase being 66,878 bales. The number graded at each port was ; Foxtou 4163, Wellington 3743, Auckland 1409, Bluff 766, Napier 311, Blenheim 202, Dunedin 184, Picton 183 and Lyttelton 50. The number in each grade was :

Good Port. Fins. Fair. Fair. Com. Auckland Napier Foxtou Wellington Blenheim 18 182 Picton 21 162 Lyttelton 50 Dunedin Bluff

There were 21 bales at Auckland, 20 at Foxton, 49 at Wellington and 3 at Bluff rejected. Tow. During the mouth 3,476 bales were dealt with, as compared with r ,9 11 for the corresponding mouth of last year, an increase of 1,565 bales. For the twelve months ending 30th September, 1913, the number of bales graded was 55,236, as compared with 25,750 for the previous twelve mouths, the increase being 29,486 bales.

Tbe number dealt with at each port and the grades was as under : d ”3 d -a aJ • ■^X3, c 'a !_n X 3 a! c +; Port. u,O c/)0 HO U H Auckland 3«° 333 44 697 Napier 4 s Foxton 150 832 59 —4,041 Wellington 104 456 416 14 990 Blenheim 6b 72 Pictou Lyttelton 25 Dunedin Bluff 4 2 STRIPPER SUPS. Passed for export: Foxton 67, Wellington 100, Lyttelton 38, total 205. Condemned : Foxton 6, Wellington io, total 16.