THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2579, 12 May 1923, Page 4

THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

BRIEF REVIEW OF THE SEASON.

Cutting is now drawing to its close for the season. The outlet for fibre has been fairly steady throughout the season, although returns to millers have not been much more than barely remunerative over the whole period. The great extensive Makerua and Moutoa swamps are noticed to be much improved in respect to the yellow leaf disease, the flax being reported by those knowing the swamps, to be looking very healthy, and areas that were worse affected with disease are now picking up. But this time of the year is not the best for obtaining a trustworthy opinion of the condition, as with plenty of rain the flax plants are naturally looking at their best. The new method of cutting flax, experimentally adopted at the Seifert Miranui sections of swamp is believed to be having good results. This is a method of cutting round the plant, and cutting higher than usual above the butt, taking off the mature leaves, and so helping forward the younger growth. This is a slower method of flax-cutting, and consequently more costly, but conpensation is looked for in bettei crops in the future. It is quite likely that other millers will adopt the Seifert method, now that it is, so far, successful. The cost of cutting flax by the new method is practically double that of the old.

So far as the export trade is concerned, British manufacturers have not shown very much interest in the New Zealand hemp market, the quantities being so small in comparison with suitable fibres fiom other sources. America and Australia have lent their usual support. Gradings for export for the twelve months ended 30th April last and 30th April, 1022, were as follows

Boles Bales. 1923. 1922. Hemp ... 58.103 58,594 Tow . .. 15,382 12,857 73,545 71,451