NEW ZEALAND FLAX CORDAGE FOR BINDERS.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1476, 17 December 1881, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND FLAX CORDAGE FOR BINDERS.

Some time ago we allnded to the fact that Mr Chas. Bell, flax dresser, Churchhill, hid entered upon a new branch of the industry, — viz., the manufacture of a rough kind of cordage from New Zealand flux, to be used as sheave binders. The subject has been taken up with some warmth by the Canterbury Agricultural aud Pastoral Association, whose secretary makes the following remarks thereon, published in a recent number of the N. Z. Country Journal: — "The introduction of labour saving machinery has produced its inevitable effect, viz. — to cheapen labour; and the advent of the twine binders has created a local market for a large quantity of fibre for the manufacturing of twine, which, in itself, would form no inconsiderable item. That may be gathered from the following calculations, which anyone sufficiently curious may teat for himself : — The acreage of corn grown in New Zealand last year was approximately 700,000 acres ; it is reasonable to suppose that, if twine can be produced at a cheaper rate (a fact now generally admitted) than wire, it will ultimately take its place. It has been proved tbat two pounds of twine manufactured from European flax will tie an acre of wheat of 30 bushels, which means the creation of a local market for 625 tons of twine annually. A proportion of this quantity will probably be supplied from our native flax fibre, although a strong prejudice has been created against this fibre in favour of Manilla, on the ground that the | former is too brittle when exposed to the scorching hot winds common in harvest time. I am, however, of opinion that this if, indeed, it has any reality in fact, can be successfully removed by a better preparation of the fibre, whereby a larger percentage of the gum may be removed in the dressing. Granted that this supposed difficulty may be removed, twine from the native fibre cannot be produced at a cheaper rate than from the European, for this reason, that 2 lbs, of twine from European fibre ,has been proved to tie as much corn as 3 lbs. of the native. I, nevertheless, look forward in the future to deriving much of our twine supply from our native source ; it will be found that the European flax fibre is far too valuable for such purposes^ and that it will pay better, to manufacture it or export it to the home markets. I only advocate its use for twine purposes, .with the view of getting its manufacture introduced into New Zealand, and the present seems a most opportune time tor reasons above given. > With respect ■ to wire binders, we ■ find the following published in the American Agriculturist :— "The reaping machine, was not complete until it was ' supplemented by an automatic binder, and this, in turn, increased the consumption of wire for; binding the sheaves. But fanners have discovered that while wire answers to bind the grain, its use is undesirable for various reasons,' mainly becanseat is dahgerous. The' unavoidable scattering at bit* of wire about the fainn and the almost inevit^teinjtigling of, wiie with, tiie straw

from tile- thresbirfg mafchins h Ave ftlrwdy caused many ''death* 6i< iniinals, even While comparatively^few— biuders are in use, and the. fear of this, threaten? to atand in the .way \ 0f,,/ the ..rapiAintroduction 'of, this, ( impomnt'.^ad?, juncts r # the, reader. ,' Tjhp , fferief^jl. demand nqw ig for »n *uu>mMicl>inder. that uses.t^ine. The mak«w,<^ reaping; machines' with binders' feel very property that the success bf theii; machines depe^cpi ' upon the übilitv; ot ( ;those who use -thejtn to procure jj^|ityoi-«ui,t»bl? cord at fair" prices. ,one compjinyhai' the ". matter^9o much 1 at Heact ttkft it,hi^» sent out a circular to show^ just whit, kind of balled and packed; > 3j&t .pircniar 19 morp especially "latendgd^wrj^rdage-mak^pß,, the following being its' eMeqtiafppipts 1:—1 :— '. The cord, if of flax, should lid 3-ply or^ 4-ply; should, npj; ruft more 600 qrJOO feet to the ponn^d, able to withstand & strajn 6t 80 founds, " -It was, estimated thai there would', be a market for between 4,poo,^rid tons of, cord %is year in America, aqcT tbat\next year's demand would doable t^t.qqant^ty