INTERIM REPORT OF THE FLAX COMMISSIONERS.

Southland Times, Issue 1253, 20 May 1870, Page 3

INTERIM REPORT OF THE FLAX COMMISSIONERS.

(Continued.) Mr Kell7, of New Plymouth, gives the names of twenty-two supposed varieties known in his province, viz. :—• Atiraukawa, Huhiroa, Parekoritawa (variegated). One, Tihore (I have not been able to satisfy rayself whether this variety is identical with a plant of the same natne in the Auckland province), Ngutunui, Atewiki, Korako, Taiore, Takaipu, One, Eafcarou, Raumba, Manumi, Tipuna, Huruhuruhika, Ngutuparera, Tito o moe wai, Ngaro, Turareke, Warariki, Pato. He says—" I cannot give a description of the whole of the above, the following are the only plants of which I can give any reliable informat ion:"— Atiraukawa. — This plant is said by the natives to produce the best and most abundant fibre ; it is not large, as com--1 pared with Huhiroa, but is said to be a ! quick grower. The leaf is inclined to • bronze color when at maturity, when young of a light olive green ; the young leaf is Gothic pointed, and the edge of a dull dark brown, a shade lighter on the inner margin ; sometimes leaves are seen with the brown relieved by a bright red line. Huhiroa.— Thia plant has a bluish green colored leaf, which narrows gradually to the point, and a narrow edge of black or very dark brown, the keel has a reddish chocolate .color, it grows very luxuriantly and produces good fibre ; it is easily separated from the green gummy matter by the native process of strippin?. ; One.-— This leaf is narrow,of an olive green, and the edge and keel orange colored. (In the enclosed papers this description applies to Tihore, but I think erroneously so.) Parekoritawa. — This is a very beautiful plant, the leaf is of a bright green, Bfcripedlongitudiaally by abrimstone color, the edge and keel are of an orange color. I think this is a sport, as some of the leaves of the plant are often found green or very partially striped ; the fibre is very good. Manumi has a short leaf and black edge. Atewiki.-— This plant is easily distinguished — the leaf is narrow, has a reddish tinge, and a narrow line of bright scarlet on the edge and keel; the fibre is very white. Taiore is abundant in the .Opunake district, the leaf is a light green, and has a wide black edge, is easily distinguished. Tito o moe wae has a long red-edged leaf, the point of which falls over. Takaipu. — The leaf stands erect, has a brown edge, the fibre is very strong, and is used by the natives for making fishing lines. JSTgutunui. — The leaf similar to the last, but has a blunt point, and is red at the butts when split, .* Huruhuruhika bears a general resemblance to the Takaipu. Korako. — The leaf is of a dark green* the edge has a narrow line of dark brown, which v appears black, the keel is a pale yellow. The following list of names has been given by a native of Taranaki as the best varieties, and formerly used by the natives for making the best garments; all the other kinds, he stated, were only used for making rough garments and ropes : — Parikoritawa, Huhiroa, One, Atiruakawa, ptewhike, Korako, Ngutunui. To this list other names are added by natives from other districts, namely:— Rataroa, Taiore, Manunu, Takaipu. Mr Benjamin Wells, of Taranaki, also gives the names of the various kinds of flax there, which are as follows: — 1 Aoanga, 2 Ate, 3 Harakeke, 4 Maori Kohinga, 5 Koran, 6 Ngarahi, 7 One, 8 Ouhe, 6 Paritaniwa, 10 Ratawa, 11 Kaomoa, 12 Rerehape, 13 Tarariki, 14 Tihore, 15 TJhiroa, 16 Waranui, 17Warariki, 18 Wararipi (1, 2, 12, 16, 18, are not known among the natives of this province, except as synonyms of more generally accepted names), and says, of these Mr Wells is acquainted with Aoanga, Tihore, Harakeke, Maori, and Ngarahu. Aoanga is beautifully variegated on the upper surface of the leaf. The margins and keel, or underside of the leaf, are of orange color. The fibre is very fine and silky. Tihore has a deep olive green, the margins and keel are of orange color; the fibre is fine — this variety is held in high, estimation by the Maoris. Ngapahi is of apple green color, the margins and keel are black ; the fibre is plentiful, fine, and good. - The above are the best kinds of flax. Harakeke Maori is of apple green color ; the margins are orange color. It is very common, and is useful for many purposes, but its fibre is not equal in quality to that of the above-mentioned varieties. Mr Kelly thinks that the following are the quickest growers of the best varieties, and arrive at maturity earliest, namely : — Atiraukawa, Huhiroa, Ngutunui, and Bataroa. Mr Kelly adds, all the varieties grow from seed naturally. I have been told by the natives that they have tried to propagate the best plants by Bowing the seed, but have always failed ; and it has always been to them a mystery how it was that young plants sprung, up where the earth had been disturbed by them when tney took up roots for transplanting, and yet they could not get the seed to grow. I think the explanation is a simple one. The conditions necessary to the vegetation of seed were not fulfilled by the natives, who I suppose, had sown them in a seed-bed in the usual manner, and were not imbedded in a rich vegetable mould, and kept in that condition of moisture and shade which the seed shed from plants growing; in good soU generally obtains. The disturbance of the soil, and the letting in of light, by taking away roots for transplanting probably hastened the vegetation of those seeds, which had been subject long enough to the above condition. I have sown

I seeds of the Huhiroa in an ordinary seedbed, and although I found that a fe\! vegetated, they invariably^ died off when about ten inches high, which I attributed i to want of shade from the sun, and a i want of uniform moisture in the soil. The natives also observed that, after a fire. ' the young plants came up vigorously. [ Mr Schnackenberg, of Baglan, mentions L several other varieties, and considers that the Ngaro, which has a black border, is the beat of all the kinds for all purposes, and yet none of the other returns men- [ tipn this variety under the same n*rae. . ' Mr Locke again says that Tapoto or . Takirikau is sometimes called Tihore or j Takiri, and considers this the best variety , known to the natives on the E-ist Coast. He states, however, that it has scarlet edges, while Mr Nairn says the article , bearing the same name in his locality has ; a deep purple margin ; but probably the . color of the margin may vary with the season and the aridity of the climate , where the flax grows. After the Tapoto or Tihore, Mr Locke classes the One and Wharanui as next in value, but of these Mr Armstrong does ! not give the relative quality of fibre turned out from the same quantity of green leaf. Whether Tapota and Tihore are the same cannot be said at present, but Mr Armstrong shows the quantity of fibre in each is nearly the same. Mr Manning, of Hokianga, says that a preponderance of fibre is indicated by the leaf assuming a light color approaching to straw color. The only thing therefore which intending purchasers of seed or roots can do, is, to ask parties acquainted in the flax districts to select the best kinds for them. In conclusion, under this branch of the subject, it may be suggested that great care should be exercised in commencing the cultivation of flax, as it is a very expensive operation, and two or three years must elapse before any return can begot. On the other hand, it is quite certain that exaggerated ideas are everywhere entertained as to the quantity of flax in each locality, and parties have gone into the business in the belief that they had an unlimited supply of flax for several machines, when it turned out, on enquiry and working, that there was not enough for one. Cultivation must therefore be encountered at once ; but let it be done judiciously and according to the means at the disposal of parties commencing the operation. In this way alone will failure . be averted, and a permanent, supply be kept up. It is estimated that on good flax land (uncultivated), such as is to be found in the "Waikato, about four tons of green flax can be cut per acre, without injury to the plants, where it has not been cut before ; so that one hundred and fifty to two hundred acres of good flax land are required to keep two machines going for a year; and as it is far N from certain that the second year's crop will produce four tons per acre, it would not be prudent to put up a mill without previously securing from two hundred to three hundred acres of good flax. As a rule for the guidance of others, it may be stated that wherever flax cannot be laid down at the port of embarkation at £20, leaving a profit, the manufacture should be discontinued or not commenced. And with a view still farther to assist parties engaged in, or wishing to engage in, the manufacture of flax, it may be taken for granted (1) that a man will cut half-a-ton of green flax a-day, though expert cutters will cut a whole ton. This is the only part of the manufacture that should be done by contract — the other parts should be done by day wages. (2) That six tons of green flax will make one ton of fibre. (3) That three machines will dress five tons per week. (4) That the dressing of the flax will cost about £16 per ton of fibre. (5) That the cost of machinery, &c, will be, say, ■ * rr J> £ 8. d. 8-horse engine and Cornish. boiler... 200 0 O Three machines ... 66 O 0 Scutchers ... ... 20 0 0 Screw press ; 30 0 0 Buildings ... „. ... ... 200 0 0 516 0 0 (6) £ s. d. 5 tons of flax sold at 100 0 0 Depreciation of machinery 1 15 0 Eight men's wages at 30s ... 12 0 0 One man at engine ... 115 0 Fourteen lads at 14s each 9 16 0 30 tons green flax ... 37 10 0 Packing, baling, &o. ... 6 5 0 3 tons coal at 25s ... 3 15 0 Freight or cartage, say ... 710 0 5 80 6 0 £19 14 0 Of course, position and other circumstances will modify or enlarge these figures, but it would not be safe to calculate on a larger return. It will thus be seen what there may be to assist in the work of cultivation ; and again, extreme caution is urged in commencing operations without a thorough appreciation of the capital and extent of flax land required to carry on three machines ; and a smaller number would not pay, except in unusually favorable circumstances. Mr Manning thinks that great results cannot be obtained till manufacturers trust entirely to cultivation, by which means an unfailing supply can be obtained, by planting in alluvial flats, in the vicinity of water-power. And he goes so far as to say, that a suflicient quantity should be planted to prevent the necessity of cutting a second time in leas than two years from first cutting ; though many leaves may be fit for the mill sooner. This is a hint worth taking. In the appendix hereto will be found an able paper by Dr Hector and Mr Skey, on "Fibrous Materials," — No. I. Another on " the Classification of Phormium Tenax." — No. 11. Another on " the obstacles to the Utilisation of New Zealand Flax." — No. 3. Letter by Mr Field, No. IV. To all of which special attention is requested, for although some of the views therein • put forth have been falsified or modified 1 by subsequent experience, yet they are 1 all worthy of a careful perusal. L (To be continued).