THE EUROPEAN FLAX INDUSTRY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 986, 3 August 1882, Page 3

THE EUROPEAN FLAX INDUSTRY.

In our advertising columns of Saturday will be found the prospectus of the Canterbury Linseed Oil and Fibre Company (Limited), capital £IO,OOO, in 2000 shares Vof £5 each, with power to increase to £20,000. We have in a previous article pointed out that before many ytars are pvpr our requirements of tha harvest field will probably approach four or fire hundred tons per annum. Agoin, we hare a large local demand for seaming and other twines, every pound of whieh ■hould be produced by ourselves. It ia now pretty well known that twine of »ny value cannot be imported and delivered

to the farmer much, if anything under Is per lb, whereas it is confidently expected that twine manufactured on the spot from European fibre can be supplied at from 8i to 9d per lb. It must also be remembered that, owing to the strength of the fibre, it can be spun so fine as to average a greater number of feet per lb than any other fibre, which will render the twine comparatively cheaper than any other fibre, ev#n if supplied at the aam« price. This is a point which should not bs overlooked. We are in receipt of a pamphlet prepared by the secretary of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Associa-

tion, and issued by the promoters for circulation throughout the country, which contains a large amount of practical instruction, beginning with the soils euitablo for the growth of flax, and following it through the various processes until the fibre reaches the manufacturer's hands. The cost of producing an acre of flax is given at £ll 6s, including retting and grassing, crushing and southing the straw ; and the yield as twenty bushels of seed (which is far from a high average), and s£cwt of fibre rained at 50a per cwt. The seed is set down as worth 6a per bushel, the price at which it would pay for oil purposes. At these low estimates the return for an acre would be £8 10s, after deducting all costs. There are hundreds of acrea in Canterbury which would protribly yield 30 bushels of seed per acre—but we think 20 bushels would be a safe average. An opinion prevails that unless the flax is taken to the retting poles immediately it is pulled or cut the fibre will be of inferior quality and of little value. An investigation of the systems in vogue on the Continent and in America will at once set aside such erroneous impressions. The common practice in some parts of the Continent is to dry tbe flax on the field, and stack after the fashion of corn, where it remains till the following spring. When the weather becomes warm enough it is retted and grassed, or it may be stacked till after harvest, when the seed is taken off, and it is either ehia'or water-retted during the autumn. The seed may be taken off during the winter, and the retting take place the following spring or summer. Mr Marshall, of the Cust, has shown that flax straw, if kept dry, will produce good fibre after a number of years. The sample of fibre sent to the Melbourne Exhibition by the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and which was awarded a medal, was prepared by Mr Marshall from straw which had been in stack four years. We wish to lay particular stress on this aspect of the question. Had flax to be retted as soon as pulled, there would be an end to its extensive culture in New Zealand, for the simple reason that farmers could not devote the necessary time or attention to work requiring such minute attention as that of steeping and grassing. Again, the summer season is unsuitable for grassing, in consequence of the prevailing high winds. Of course a few farmers might be found who would devote the time and attention necessary, but the great majority could not do so; nor is it necessary that they should, as we have indicated. .Referring to the prospectus under consideration, we notice an important clause to the effect that the company will be prepared to purchase the crops, either scutched or in the straw. We are of opinion that the less the farmer has to do with the crop after it hae come to maturity the better it will bo for all parties. The operation of retting and grassing is one of the most important, and if not carried out with skill and care the results will not be satisfactory. The company, in selecting sites for their scutching mills, would do well to secure a few acres attached to each, and haviog the command of a good water supply, where they could establish their own retteries, which would be carried on under the supervision of a practical expert. The result would be a more uniform quality of fibre. It may be objected that tbe cartage would be too great, but we do not think so. A couple of good teams of horses would" sweep a district having a radius of ten miles. The best crop will rarely produce more than two tons of dry atraw, or little more than one load, The seed could be threshed out either by the farmer or by the company ; this would be a matter of arrangement. Of course there would be nothing to prevent any grower from retting his own straw, and thereby securing to himself the full profit of hit crop. As soon ai all the straw was carted into the company's ground the retting process might commence. Doubtless the company will see their way to add to their business that of paper making. We notice by the European Mail that the growing of flax for seed, and the straw for paper making is being entered into in the West of England. The return for last year's crop was twenty, bushels of seed and two tons of straw. The seed sold at 8s per bushel, and the straw (unsteepedj, at £4 10s per ton, giving a total of £l7 10s per acre. The manager of the Ely paper works offers the same price for 1000 tons next year. With such facts before us, with a local market for twine and oil, we have every reason to look forward to a prosperous career for the Canterbury Oil and Fibre Company. With efficient management, divested of all home prejudices, and a judicious application of surrounding circumstances, Canterbury may soon become the seat of a flourishing linen industry.—Weekly Press.