AIM 1000 ACRES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 67, Issue 243, 26 July 1947, Page 6

AIM 1000 ACRES

THIS YEAR’S LINEN FLAX CROP

LAST SEASON’S EXPERIENCE NOT PRECEDENT

Target for the linen flax crop in Ashburton County this year is ICOO acres and more if it is possible, the manager of the linen flax factory at Methvern (Mr A. F. Denniston) said to-day. Contracts have already been signed for between 500 and 600 acres, it is understood.

The processing of the last season’s crop is now under way and about oncthird has been completed. As the crops are processed in the order in which they are stacked at the factory, it is the early crop® that have so far been treated, and it is these which, because of a very bad spell of weather in the early growing period, have a lower percentage of fibre content than might be expected. Some of the later crops are expected to be considerably above average, so that, all over, the whole crop is expected to be up to average, with the few exceptions in the cases of early crops. Not a Precedent

Because early crops last season were not so good as the later ones, should not take this as a precedent, Mr Denniston emphasised.

Some growers had the idea that because- their early crops had not been so successful they should leave their sowing till later. That was not correct, for last season’s circumstances were directly due to the. weather. If crops were not planted till later in the sowing season, from October through to the middle of November, and a dry spell ensued then the late crops would also he adversely effected. To bring these facts to growers’ attention a circular is being dispatched to them, said Mr Denniston, pointing out if they delayed their sowing too late the crop might not do too well, and that the last season’s experience should not be taken as a precedent. Stacking On Own Properties

Mr Denniston said that this year he would like growers to stack their crops on their own properties provided they had the necessary labour, rather than have it carted immediately to the factory. When the flax was purchased from the farmer on a tonnage basis farmers were keen to get it into the factory, as soon as- possible, even when it was still holding moisture. Now, however, when the flax was purchased on a fibre content basis, it was preferable to stack the flax. The straw would consequently be straighter and more easily handled and the fibre would be.of a smooth glossy type as the oil seemed to penetrate the whole straw while in the stack.

Fibre of flax that had been stacked would doubtless also be of a better grade when checked in over the weighbridge, than that brought straight in from the paddock, which would mean a better financial return to the grower. <