NEW ZEALAND FLAX.

Shannon News, 17 June 1927, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND FLAX.

SUCCESS NEAR. HAMILTON.

AREA UNDER CULTIVATION

Six months ago p, commencement was made with the planting of flax on a 4000-acre block owned by Fred Seitbrt Flax Company Ltd., on the Piako Road,,Gordonton. Since then 90 acres have been permanently planted and 170,000 plants have been raised for planting out in’ an additional 130 acres. In IS months it is expected that 600 acres will be planted. The work that is being carried out is most, interesting, and as far as present indications go it promises to be highly successful. The area that is being devoted to flax growing is part of the vast Woodlands peat swamp, that unimpressive expanse of country through which the railway line passes between Hamilton and Morrinsville. The , property under cultivation-is situated four miles *0 the north-west of the Motumaoho railway station and ten miles north-west of Hamilton. Part of the land now under flax had been used for dairying, and was in grass, while the remainder was taken out of scrub and cultivated. Drains had surrounded the property and the first task undertaken by the owners w T as to deepen and improve these and to clear the land. The areas were then ploughed and the soil reduced to a fine tilth, Manuring was an important feature of the operation, lime being the prinicipal fertiliser used. It has been found that lime loosens the soil and releases agencies that are beneficial to plant growth. In addition, 2cwt. of basic super is also applied.

Manuring Experiment,

The quantity of lime distributed will be from half a ton to lh toils to the acre. Some flax has been planted without manure a s an experiment, and at present there „is good growth on both the limed and the unlimed land. It is yet too early to note the effect of liming and manuring. An important feature of the operations on the block in question is the attention given to cultivation after planting. Harrows and cultivators are kept employed continuously between .the rows of plants, eradicating weeds and keeping the soil in a loose and open condition.

The land, which is level and clear of all obstructions such as timber, lends itself admirably to cultivation and is easily worked. There is a good fall for drainage, and some of the main drains are like mill races. All the drains will eventually be deepened until the solid clay is reached. Drainage among the plants is provided by a mole drain-plough, which makes a conduit 2ft. below, the surface.

The conduits are led to the open boundary drains and keep tlic flax plants as free from excessive moisture as possible. Flax plants are to bo seen on the property in all stages of growth. There are tiny seedlings, almost invisible t.o the naked eye, sturdy plants 2ft. high and • crowns of mature plants with new leaves reaching to a height of sft. As the work proceeds improvements are carried out.

Workers Becoming Expert,

For the first few months of the operations day labour was employed, but now that the men are becoming export contracts have been let for every phase of the undertaking, all of which is done under close supervision. Throughout the area at present under flax, the plants are in a healthy condition, and are making splendid development. The results achieved have exceeded the expectations.of the expert in charge. Mr. F. W. Seifert, who is firmly of the opinion that the cultivation of flax on the peat lands of the Waikato will become a -very important industry. It lias been proved that it is much cheaper to grow flax by cultivating it than to depend on the naturallygrown flax, especially when all tho disadvantages of the latter and the cost of manufacture and the quality are considered. A stripper will be installed next year to deal with the leaves that will then be ready, while in 1929 a mill will be erected, and flax cutting on the 600-acre area, which will be under cultivation before that time, will be undertaken in. earnest. The remainder of the 4000-acre block will gradually be laid out in flax, but in the meantime a portion of it will be devoted to the revenue producing dairy farm that is at present being conducted.