IRISH FLAX.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2231, 27 January 1921, Page 2

IRISH FLAX.

MAY BE GROWN IN NEW

ZEALAND,

That Irish (lax may be grown in New Zealand is suggested by Mr Arthur Hyland, who came to the Dominion by the Pakeha. Mr Hyland comes from Donaeloney, near Belfast, the centre of a flax-grow-ing distrid, He has brought with him some samples of Jlax and ,sced, which he is willing to distribute to persons who would like to try the experiment of growing- the plant. The seed is sown in Ireland in April, corresponding roughly to September in this pari of the world. Through cultivation is necessary, and damp ground is preferable to guard againd a dry season. No fertiliser is used. The plants attain a height of about thirty inches, and the fibre is obtained by scutching. Linen manufacture would not he possible in New Zealand, but the fibre might he exported, as the Irish manufacturers now require more than can be grown in the country. As New Zealand flax is grown in Ireland, it is thought quite possible that the Irish plant may be acclimatised in New Zealand. The difficulty in such cases is the acclimatisation. An example of the way such difficulties may be overcome is afforded by the cotlon-growing industry in America. It is stated to have taken twenty years of experimenting before the cotton plant was successfully established in the Southern States.— X.Z. Times.