THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2973, 10 December 1925, Page 2

THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

KLAX-GROWjING ADVOCATED.

CHIEF HEMP GRADER’S VIEWS

The chief Government hemp grader, Mr. W, Petrie, informed a Dominion reporter yesterday that the possibilities in Hax-growing were just beginning to be realised in this country. Two companies bad recently been formed in the Waikato, one with a capital of £II,OOO, and the other with £40,000, lo plant areas in flax and manufacture hemp. The stimulus which had been given to the industry was largely due to the enthusiasm of Mr. George Smerle, a botanist, who possessed a wide knowledge of ilax. Air. Smerle had had charge of the plantations of Messrs. Seifert Brothers in the Manawatu district for many years, and was now settled in the Waikato district, where he was enthusiastically fostering the industry.

“It is generally accepted," said .Mr. Petrie, “that the hemp industry is second to none in the Dominion. Flax-millers and growers now realise that tlax-growing will, if properly eared for, he highly profitable. Transplanting nothing but the best varieties will give a quick return." Most of New Zealand’s swamp lands, he explained, were suitable for llax cultivation, and low-lying lands even if liable to floods. Flax should be planted out in rows about seven feet apart, which would allow room for scarifying and also a nice distance when cutting by the time the leaves have thickened out to their fullest extent. A space of live feet should be allowed between each plant, which would allow approximately 1250 plants to the acre. After cultivation for two years, the crop should yield at the end of the third year about live tons per acre, and about eight tons per acre after the lirs| side-cutting. The increase of leaf per year would be three tons for lln> year after the first cut, increasing rapidly each cutting until about 20 to 30 tons per acre per annum is yielded. There are, he explained, over 10 varieties of phormium fenax, and the difference in percentage of libre content between the various varieties of plants ranged from 2 per cent, t,o 22 per cent., while there were quite a number ranging from 9 per cent, black-edged varieties appeared to be blight-resisting, and these as a rule gave a good percentage of libre. When transplanting, it was necessary to have the land prepared to receive the plants, and if was wise to plant as soon s jossible after removal, for the reason that if the roots were allowed to become dry the plant would get a check. The cost of planting, Mr. Petrie stated winked oat at from .CIO to £l2 per acre. I!v waiting two or three years for seedlings, as compared with plants taken from native bushes, the cost would probably be onethird less. After lirst cost of draining, fencing, and planting, there was very little expenditure necessary to promote the growth. Manuring was an expense that could be safely overlooked, as the llax plant would grow prolitically in swamp lands, with light draining and care in cutting. Stock should not be allowed to graze in llax areas. “Planting has not been carried out on an extensive scale in the Dominion,” . proceeded the Government hemp grader. “Quite a number of tests have been made a and considered highly satisfactory. Mr. Frank Wall, of Martinborough, has a good plantation, and in conversation last year lie stated that in Ids opinion there was no industry in the Dominion to compare with flaxgrowing. In fact, his area, has so increased that lie has recently rebuilt his mill on up-to-date lines, and included a second stripper in order to cope with the increased growth. “The best thing about llax cultivation,” concluded Mr. Petrie, “is that there will never be any danger of a g-lut in the market. New Zealand hemp makes the best bin-der-twine in the world, and overseas markets will eagerly snap up every pound wc can produce. We are at present unable to supply many large orders simply because we do’not produce sufficient. With the planting that is now going on, the industry should within a few yeass assume impostant proportions."