NEW ZEALAND FLAX.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 166, 13 April 1871, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND FLAX.

(From the "Home News")

New Zealand flax is obtaining a reputation beyond rope walks, and among the ranks of the learned ones of the world. In a most interesting account of a visit recently paid ro Kew Gardens, the following appears : — " New Zealand flax (Phormium tenax) will serve to show us how truly Kew Gardens may be described as a great botanical menagerie. It is a notable illustration of the truth, which is at length being seen in all its significance, that herbs, and plants, and trees are as actually at war among themselves as any of the caged animals that are kept by iron bars from making weaker animals their prey. The struggle for existence, which involves the destruction of the weaker individuals, is by no means confined 4p the animal world. Not only is — \ Nuturo re 1 in tooth and claw V With ravine \ in the world of animal life, by reason of the struggle for existence ; but even herbs and trees and plants are as persistent in attacking and overcoming one another as • the carnivorous creatures that fly at the throat of their prey. Here, in Kew Gardens, are instances in which the extirpation of the weaker individuals and tribes of plants is prevented by attentions which are as necessary to preserve the endangered plants as are iron bars for endangered animals.

The New Zealand flax plant before us is an astonishing illustration of internecine vegetable warfare. But in this rough-looking and formidable specimen, of which New Zealanders make string, and cordage, and fishingnets, stronger than any that can be made of hemp — is it the victor or the prey in the struggle ? It is the victim, and the little white clover of our fields is its enemy, assailant, and conqueror ! Let us state the facts with still greater prociseness, and on the testimony of

the best authority. "In New Zealand," says Sir John Hooker, " the little white clover and other herbs are actually killing and strangling outright the New Zealand flax, a plant of the coarsest, hardest, and toughest

description — a plant which forms huge matted patches of woody rhizomes which sends up tufts of sword-like leaves, six to ten feet high, inconceivably strong in texture and fibre. I know of no English plant (says Sir John Hooker) to which the New Zealand flax can be likened, so robust is its constitution and habit. In some respects the great matted tussocks of Oarex paniculata resemble New Zealand flax. It is difficult to imagine this lit jle white clover invading our English bogs, and smothering the tussocks of Garex paniculata, but the resistance the Carex could offer to the attack would be child's play in comparison to that which the Phormium could apparently oppose. And yet in New Zealand the white clover is planted to extirpate this formidable looking flax, with its swordlike leaves, sometimes ten feet long.' Thus is the story of David and Goliath enacted in the vegetable world. And although, when the masses of New Zealand flax are broken through by cattle, numbers of other plants appear in the disturbed soil, our common white clover rides triumphant over all, and remains sole master of the field."