FLAX CULTIVATION.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3676, 6 October 1880, Page 2

FLAX CULTIVATION.

While the cultivation and manufacture otphormium tenax or native flax, plant in New Zealand has almost ceased, it appears strikingly strange, that in many parts of Cape Colony, in the Island of St. Helena, and elsewhere, special atten? tion is being directed towards introducing it and: turning ritt culture into profitable industry. We hare before us a r cbpy .of the Cape Times of a late date containing no less than three letters* urging the introduction of the New Zealand. flax plant, or korari as the Maories call it, into various parts of South Africa. How does it come about that after a lengthy.and ezpensire trial, the people of a small island like St. Helena—an island with only about ole-fifth of its surface, or six thousand acres, fit for culti▼a tion—should be able to grew our flax to pecuniary . advantage,- while in Few Zealand, its natural home, where hundreds of thousands of acres are covered by it, it is almost looked upon m an eneumberance P It speaks very little for the enterprise of our fellow-colonista that such should be the case. • A few years ago people had flax on the brain,, and large quantities of it in a dressed state were shipped home; but because it did not return exceptional profits, its manufacture virtually ceased, and one of oar richest sources of wealth was neglected. In the present depressed state of the Colony, capitalists might do muoh worse than invest their money in flax mills, for while New Zealand hemp ia ia great demand at Home, hardly a bale is in the market.—Timaru Herald.