THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

Southland Times, Issue 1228, 25 March 1870, Page 3

THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

Mr M' Arthur, Ulax Commissioner for Southland, has handed us the following replies to his queries on the erowth and cultivation of flax, sent to Mr Macfarlane, of Auckland, the Chairman of the Commission, and published in our issue of the 11th ult. In order that our readers may readily understand the answers, we reprint the questions : — . Queries — Cultivation of Max. Tc "What kind of seed, large or small ? 2. Is it sown in beds, broadcast) or in drills like ■ turnip ? 8. Is it transplanted from the beds or drills, . and dibbled like cabbage ? 4. How is tbe land prepared for its reception ; is it drilled and manured as for turnip ? ' 5.- Would guano answer, and should it be ap.'.plied in the usual manner ? 6.. How far apart should the plants be ia the . tow, and the distance between the rows ? 7. Should the ground be wrought with grubbers, to keep clean, as with above crops ? 8. Would the ground be the better of subsoiling, say to 20 inches or so? : Q. Is good friable clay soil suitable for the ; .growth of flax? 10. What progress in growth should be expected in a year ? 11. What is the best season for sowing ? 12. What the -most suitable time for trans* •planting? • ; . 13. What the proper time for cutting ? 14. Should it be cut only every three years ? There are innumerable young, three or four leaved plants, from a foot to 18 inches high, scattered over our unbroken lands here,— 15. Would it be advantageous to transplant these into prepared land? 16. Should they be transplanted with a plug of , earth attached ? 17. Would they be fit to cut in a year from transplanting time ? 18. How high should flax be cut above the . ground ? . 39. Should there be any leaves left uncut ? 20. Which is the most valuable, one, two, or three years' growth ? 21. An £8 acre of flax at Auckland, 2 ■ years ago, what would be the value of the same now* , • Beplies to Mr M 1 Arthur's questions on Cvltiva- - - tionof Mam> 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and G.—TSo distinction as to size. To know whether seed is likely to germinate (1) steep it in hot water of 110 ° for about five hours, or till itfsinks to bottom. What still floats is bad. Sow good seed in boxes on prepared beds. When the plant is about 2 inches above the ground, " transplant hV rows (nursery fashion) in good soil well pulverised for one year — when to be planted out in permanent location. The most favorable _ .ground, is by the side of rivers, and in well drained swamps (a foot at least below level). But any soil, well prepared, will do for flax — open land ploughed and cross ploughed — plants put in holes (in swampy places) about three feet apart, and in open land in rowa fi feet apart, and each plant in a row 6 feet apart from its neighbor. 4 to 5 rows thus planted could be together, then a space of 8 or 9 feet should be left for a dray to pass through and cart away cut flax. Then other 4or 5 rows, and so on. Good soil does not require manure ; but if thought advisable old compost or stable manure may be used ; guano is too heating for the young plant ; rough bones will suit weU,app lied m the usual manner. Thedebris of the flax, 'well rotted, is adapted for this top-dressing around plants. 7: Grubber not suitable. 8. Peeper the better, but won't pay. 9. Flax requires free, open, spongy land ; but it wfll grow on any land well prepared. , 10. Hax from seed will be ready in two or three years according to soil,— from roots transplanted, in about two years, perhaps less. 11 and 12.— Best season for sowing is the usual spring time, and transplanting the same, although these operations may be done almost at any time when land is moist' and not liable to be dried up. 13.— The cutting operation must be carried on all the year round, and to keep up a continuous supply, only the four, or five outer leaves of each root should be cut; and this 'process can be repeated in 8 months thereafter, and so on continually. 14 — Flax to be of use at present should be over 4i feet long; the young plants, if of good quality, should be transplanted to a place near the mill, where they will grow to the desired height. 15. — Yea. See above. 16. — Yes, certainly, though not large plugs. . 17.— 1n about 2 years from transplanting. 18. — Flax should be cat where the outer touches the inner leaf, take care not to injure young leaves. . 19.— Yes. See 13. . 20. — Flax reaches maturity in about 4 yean, Afterwards leaves (outer ones) begin to decay and to lose strength ; hence leaves in this state should not be dressed. The fourth year's leaves cut first, then third year's. The fibre is whitest during the second year, and can be dressed very fine and sQky like ; but if all cut at this age, length of leaf, if not strength, would be sacrificed. 21. — Flax land much increased in value. Hheßruce Standard has been " favoured with a sample of flax prepared by Booth's process, and it has certainly a very clean appearance. It is, however, very short, and we understand at the last sale by Messrs- M'Landress, Hepburn, & Co., unfavourable opinions were expresssed by competent judges as to its quality. It appears that the machine by which it is prepared; can only finish 1 cwt. of green flaxper day, and before these machines can be entitled to be classed as superior, it will be necessary to increase their capabilities very considerably. "W"e look forward with confidence to vast improve--xaehts in the construction of machines for the preparation of flax in an expedi--tious and efficient manner, but from all we can gather, Booth's process is not likely to supersede those at present in • use." ':■- ' - ' i

The Auckland papers state that Messrs Price of Onehunga have completed a new machine, on the same principle as their old one, but capable of turning out amuch better article, and more than double the quantity of it in the same time. A gentleman of experience in flax matters who saw it working, said that the only objection he coald find in it, was that it dressed too much for the feeder and the receiver to manage comfortably ; but we suppose that could easily be rectified by reducing the speed. Half a ton of fibre is the result of a day's wort with this machine.