THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

Otaki Mail, 14 March 1923, Page 3

THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

IMPROVED METHODS OF CUTTING. EXPERIMENTS AT MIRANUI. 'ihe value oi ihe investigations into ItaN cultivation al Mirauui, undertaken by ihe Seneit Flax-dressing Company, cannot he over-estimated, and give point to ihe claim that it is only fair thai He,' State should now a.-.-ist in preserving what ig Hie most highlv productive of ihe Dominion's primary industries. For m.any years, whik the mechanical processes of dressing fibre underwent notable improvements, no attention whatever has been paid to the actual cultivation of ihe iaw material. Yet ii cannot lie denied Uiai here there is room tor almost, revolutioi'iarj changes in methods, and correspondingly greater result's Take the selection oi varieties oi the flax plant, for instance. There are certain varietiee thai give onlv iwo per rent of dressed fibre t.o the' green leaf mined. There are others that jiel-l as high as 20 per cant

ot the finished article. No doubt much, patient investigation, analysis and selection would be necessary to reach a 30 per cent, standard, but '.be possibilities about research work of that nature arc wide and far-reach-ing. Meanwhile investigation in other directions has already yielded definite results as to the best., methods of flax-cutting-, and has revealed that hitherto operations have been carried on under a system that has been wasteful and uneconomical. A 1 Miramu on Wednesday, a Shannon News represent alive was sis own by Mr H. Seifcrt the result of some of the experiments mad-. Under the old system it is contended mat the cutting has been too low on the stain, with the result that the plant, has received much injury, interfering with the throwing out of the young blades and giving it a general set-back. To test this theory "experiment; have been made: (l.>" by cutting the old way; (2) the diamond cut (that is, at the lowest visible point of the young shoot): and :3 the side cut, by which the centre blades are left. The result is quite noticeable to the most casual observer. Plants treated by >r>e first method have a very stunted and weak appearance, while those in the second category have a much healthier appearance and the growth is more vigorous. Number three", in which the" leaves wire lei; in the hitre of the plant, easily proved the best, the growth all round being strong and free and the leases of greater length than any of the other-. This proves conclusively thai a great

deal is to be expected from scientific cutting. It is considered that the cutting should not he below tie "fan"" (the junction of the leaves in each bunch), sn thai protection ear; be afforded the young, shoots. li* legard to No. 2 expeiiirieni (the diamond out; soine plants were shown

mot were cut on October 10 and 11, and at present they ate looking tem'arkably well, one 'having a 6ft Sin blade, which could be cut now anu would be a raillablelleaf. Mr Smerle, who ha» been in charge of the investigations, uoes not approve of this system ox cutting, however, as he roitends that over. a. period of years it would weaken the plant considerably and that the leaf could not be cut under two years. Alongside this bush is another that was cut for first time five month- pvo nnd£r the "stJ-j cut system." The leaf is now -even feet in length, while other plants oil undir this method six months ago were Oft high, with no less than seven fan plants and ~e\~':n baby plant*. So it can be seen that this method has a lot to recommend it above the other

two. and it is contended that, under if, the crops could he harvested every ten months instead of &i four-Veer intervals as at present. This is a hijr factor, and -worth- of fhe consideration of even- miller, as it will also give a better quality of flax, an increased production, rentier *ffe flax less liable to fire-- end will also help to keep th" swamp clean.

It is anticipated thai cutting under the r?ew- System can be carried on ritrht ihrowph the year, whereas hv the old method .two to fhjee months wa- l»si every year. v.hi-h is a bf£ less to both employer and employee. Prom fhe ciu't<y=' point c.f view tbe wo;;!: ii much more tediruH hut the inen are working in han«o»y v/tih the company in the effort to revive the

i- ;! i d ;e • «l "S s. I 11! s. I II 11 I it ' n

industry, which is _of the greatest im portance to the Dominion, and especl ally this district. During the visit our representative was shown some flax plants that wen sown just on twelve months ago wliish now have Up to five Madoa .anc the fan wings showing out well. Thesi ore the results from one plant sowi In each hole, whereas it has alwayi been the custom to put in three plants It is anticipated that these plants wil be ready for cutting in three, vears Millers, generalJj,-, hold lhat the iiioiitl of .Tune is the best time to sow, bu' from experiments made at Miramii i has been found that the best results have come from plants sown ir March.