NEW ZEALAND FLAX.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 101, 30 April 1889, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND FLAX.

CAUSE OF THE AMERICAN

DEMAND,

Mr H. P. Barber, who returned from America by the Zealandia, was asked for some information as to the demand for New Zealand nax which has lately been very great, and kindly gave his views to a reporter as follows : — " Thesecret of the rise in flax,"hesaid was a corner in sisal hemp grown in Mexico. The largest of the cordage companies there have formed themselves into a ' trust' and they cornered those who make binder twiue. The latter combined and bought up all the ■ sisal available for the year, and then put up the price about double the* usual rate, That made a wondertul ditlereuce to all those who used binder machines, and the repulb was that in some part of the Western States binder machines are nob used ut> all. The farmers ai-s using in then-

stead what they call headers, largo n- achines which are driven through a field of wheat, taking off' the tops, and leaving •the stubble behind." " This does away with the necessity for binding, I suppose ?" "Yes. This header also threshes the grain and turns it into bags. The machine is pushed by horses instead of being drawn, and in this way the grain* is not trod down by the animals." "flow does flax become a substitute for

sisal?" • " For making rope and such purposes. "How do sisal and flax compare as to cost?" . " Flax ordinarily costs more .than sisal. " But is sisal as good as the New Zealand product?" " The sisal fibre is not so long as that of New Zealand flax, but owing to the corner "in sisal it could not be got at all when I was in the States ; New Zealand flax was being used in its stead. x\s to whether the demand for flax will remain good for another year is an open question. The cordage companies do not 'know whether, having once used New Zealand flax as a substitute for sisal, they may not continue to do so. They complain bitterly of the quality of some of the New Zealand fiax, useless ends that never should be sent being included in the shipments."