THE FLAX INDUSTRY

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3922, 23 March 1929, Page 4

THE FLAX INDUSTRY

REVIEW! OF RESEARCH WORK. GOOD PROSPECTS FOR FUTURE. The phormiutm (flax) committee oif the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research! me't in Palmerston North on Thursday, when there was present Mr. A. Seifert (chairman), Dr. E. Wars den (sec.), Prof. Easterfield (Oawthron Institute), Prof. Peren (Massey College), Mr. A. H. Cockayne (Melds Division), Mi’. H. D. Viiekerinan (Wellington), Mr. E. T, Frost (Waikato), Dr. McLaurin (Government Analyst), Mr. H. A. Seifert (Palmerston North), Dr. J. S. Yeates (Massey College) who is in charge of flax work at that institution, was also in attendance. The secretary reported that a machine for testing the tensile strength of fibre had been Obtained. The chairman added that the machine would be of great benefit to the industry. The secretary also reported that the offer of the Plymouth Cordage Company to carry out tests as to strength of fibre and suitability for cordage, still held good, if members desired to make use of it. IMPORTANCE OF ICUDTTVATION. Messrs A. Seifert and A. H. Cockayne submitted a comprehen- . sive survey of flar areas visited, with conclusions as to the best methods of growing the leaf. They emphasised the importance of cultivation and the benefits to be obtained from planting seedlings as compared with fans. If those practices were adopted, there was no reason why flax should not become the most profitable crop in New Zealand. Mr. Seifert added that the cost of cultivation, if the ground was properly selected at first, should not be more than £6 per acre and it would grow less each yeay. SEEDLINGS BEST. Mr. Cockayne emphasised the need for selecting only the strongest seedlings when irrespective of what their origin might be. 'The old idea that less strong plants would do better the second year could not be accepted. A weak seedling meant an unprofitable crop if planted. A cultivated crop should be ready for cutting in four years from the planting of the seedlings and should yield 40 tons to the acre. Messrs iSeifert and Cockayne were complimented on the comprehensive nature of the report and valuable information given. It was resolved that an illustrated bulletin indicating desirable practices, be compiled. YELLOW LEAF. Professor Easterfield introduced the question of yellow leaf urging that steps be taken to discover both cause and reimedy. Mr. Cockayne mentioned that he held out no hope of the disease being eliminated while flax remained an uncultivated plant. The chairman intimated that the matter was not being overlooked by any means. Personally, he thought that the elimination of yellow leaf would largely depend upon the selection of plants that were immune. There was also some evidence that liming and fertilising would have beneficial effects.

The appointment of Mi’. L. F. Meadows as assistant to Dr. Yeates, was approved. Mr. Meadows will concentrate on yellow leaf investigation this year. Dr. Yeates reported that attention had been given to yellow leaf disease whenever opportunity offered, Its occurrence and the soil conditions under which i't was found, had been noted from time to time and the selection of resistant varieties had also been started. The disease had been observed chiefly in the Manawatu district, but it was seen this summer near Tofcaanu and also at Te Puke, near Tauranga. There was a doubtful icase of it in the Wairarapa (Martin'borough) with an obvious attack of it amongst flax on the coast near’ the outlet of the Wjaiflarapa lake. No indications of the disease had been seen elsewhere. The swamp of Mr. Brown at Wlai'kanae, which was badly attacked, was to be carefully examined and most of the coming year’s investigations would be carried out there. The selection and testing oif immune varieties, excavation ,aud examination of root systems of healthy and diseased plants would form the main part of the yelloiw leaf work this year. The committee congratulated Dr. & e'ates on the work lie had done so far, a motion being minuted in appreciation. TOW BALL PROBLEM.

The unwanted tow-bail was mentioned by Mr. Cockayne, who considered that more drastic tail-cut-ting would be ibeneficial. The 'chairmjan, on the other hand, did not agree entirely with this opinion. 'There were hand processes that eliminated the tow-halls but the question was whether machines could be found to do the job in the same way. Dr. Cockayne considered that the elimination of tow balls would make •New Zealand fibre 100 per cent, more attractive to spinners, and an invention that would solve the trouble would (be of inestimable benefit to the industry. Discussion also centred around striptpers and whether improvements could not be effected. It was pointed out by Mr. H. A. Seifert that when first quality leaf was put through the machines already in use, there was not much wrong with the fibre produced. It seemed that the position would improve with the imore general use of a higher class leaf.

The icomimittee decided to give consideration to improving both strippers and scutchers. BLEACHING. ' The need foi& a new bleaching process to do away with paddocking which the chairman declared was partly responsible for tow-balls and also resulted in loss of fibre strength, was stressed by the chairman, Who stated 'that many experiments bad been tried and he felt that the time was very near when the problem would be solved satisfactorily. The question of employing someone exclusively on the work was discussed, the chairman suggesting that the government be approached for a subsidy for the work. It was pointed out, however, that men capable of carrying out such investigations were few and far between. Dr. Mars den reported that Mr. Barnicoat, M.'Se., of the Dominion Laboratory, might be available and it was decided to ask for his services. FIBRE FOR SACKS. The chairman introduced the possibility of softening flax fibre, so that it could be used for fertiliser sacks. Something like 6,000,000 sacks which would involve 4000 tons of fibre, were used each year and if the flax fibre could be put to 'thJat use, it would :be beneficial to the industry. It whs reported that the matter was being investigated by Dr. Barnieoat. INSECT REST'S. Dr. Miller, of Cawthron Institute, is to be asked for a report on harmful insects of flax swamps and the best method of attack for their elimination. WORK AT MASSEY COLLEGE. Dr. Yeates reported on the investigations he was conducting at the experimental area at Massey College. Leaves of about eighty strains had been tested by stripping. So flar no attention had been paid to percentage of fibre in these leaves. It was considered that any figures obtained in small stripping tests would be very misleading'and in addition they would tend to place false value on varieties which might not yield a reasonable weight of leaf.

The total number of strains recorded to date was over 200. Of these about 40 were from the South Island. In every case, written records had been kept as to locality, etc., and photographic records had generally been kept also. Fans of all these strains were either at the College heeled in awaiting planting, or else would be obtained in the next month or two. A start had been made in the scheme of growing, fans of known varieties in various districts. Up to the present, fans had been sent to three localities —to Canterbury, to Martiiiiborougli, and to Hamilton. It is hoped that this work Would be extended next year. WORK OF COMING YEAR. In reporting on investigations to be conducted during the coming year, Dr. Yeates said that the .chief

aim would be the selection of good varieties which gave the highest percentage of vigorous seedlings. He considered that vigour of the seedling plant was more important than resemblance to the parent plant. All batches of seedlings would be tested to make sure that the fibre Was of good quality. A variety, the seed of which would produce over 90 per cent. • of high-grade seedlings, was being- taken as the immediate objective. It was probable, however, that the most vigorously growing wild plants, from 'which seed was naturally taken, w °uld owe a great deal of their vigour to hybridism. In that, case it was useless to expect that the seedling plants Would be so vigorous as the parent. The original scheme of artificial crossing was therefore to be carried on as rapidly as possible. The hybrid plants froim the first year’s crossing- showed so much extra vigour that it was considered possible for a year of nursery cultivation to be saved before plantingout. furthermore, if the extra vigour was shown after each cutting-, as was to be expected, the advantages of using hybrid seed would be even greater. The feasibility of such a scheme depended chiefly on the cost of producing hybrid seed. Work would be undertaken on a large scale next year to find the best method of hybridising. About four acres would ,be planted in fans during the year, ■ The seedling plants would plant about five acres and seed of about one hundred sti’ains would be grown pod by pod in boxes this autumn and when planted out would occupy about another acre, Experimental sowings of seed would be made in the open. The seed for this experimental -work would be of a very good yariety, so that the plants could he later sent out to fiax growers if necessary. The acre of one variety intended to give a uniform experimental aud demonstration block.

Dr. Yeates recorded his appreelation of tlie assistance so readily given him in the work by the numerous ilax growers and millers. TESTS OK ADMIRALTY. Mr. E. T. Frost undertook to secure a quality of fibre which was considered to have special salt resisting'qualities for the Admiralty to conduct tests.