THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 25, 30 January 1926, Page 5

THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

(To the Editor.', Sir,—l was interested in reading the letter signed C. Wilson in last night's "Star" in reply to the misleading .-tatement attributed to Mr. Robert Burns with reference to peat land for flax cultivation. In view of the ever-increas-ing interest in what is to become one of our primary industries, the letter was timely. As one who has studied for years the properties and growing conditions of Phormium tenax (New Zealand flax), I can substantiate the statement made by Mr. Wilson that peat land free from timber, properly drained and consolidated will yield good crops, of flax. In Southland the very best flax is growing on swamp land of peat with subsoil of clay or gravel. I would point out that while flax will crow on almost ,my good land, yet the very be*! <i f land it allowed to become stagnant and marshy is detrimental to the growth of good flax, while under a proper -y-tem of drainage .such ,flax will ilourisii luxuriantly. Alluvia! swamp area* made sweet by a system of wide drains or canals with a retaliation of -"mall drain.-, gravitation of the water level being maintained by pump* worked hv the cheapest power available, will he f,,iind to yield enommus crop* oi g I llax Tiie'uritcr has proved tins by the ful'lu-.vin- simple manner:—A small plant not m-'.'V than two or three left iii".i. with si yen uniiealtiiy appearance, was taken from a stagnant marsh tthe ground being a mixture of day and r<.at! an.l j. hire,! i.n the -am.- ground -.1,11,' chains hw.iv liii! on tiie bank of a running stream: the result was that in two year- that whie-i appeared in the iii>t instance; to he a 'poor sickly varieiv. iiad. under proper conditions, liuuri-ht'd into a luxuriant and healtliy plant with leaves ten tv twelve feet ~i!_ r :i with good iibre content. Another p.lint wort.iy of note 1- that by such a .-'.-•••in of drainage tiie risk by fire (a hit; itpin i is reduced to a minimum, the ,-analo acting as a break, while at the same time, if desirable, they can be uiili-ed a- a water carriage for the green leaf to the mill. In conclusion, let mc say that many years ago in the early reports to the Government by Professors .Skey and Hector, with reference to parts ot Canterbury, is the following, inter alia: ■The best flax is growing on peat land about 15 inches deep with a gravel bottom."' I would also refer your readers to the Hon. Rhodes' report on the Hauraki Plains, where Mr. G. Smerle's llax farm i≤ situated.—l am. etc.. WM. DUXLOP.