FLAX CULTIVATION.

Bruce Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 1336, 19 August 1881, Page 6

FLAX CULTIVATION.

- la the current number of the ' Victorian Review' there ia an interesting article on the subject of flax. The article begins with a brief account of the ma^uitude of the flax indnatry in Ireland and elsewhere, and then gives a description of the mode of culture. It concludes with a few remarks urging upon Australian farmers to adopt this industry. ! He quotes figures which show that in Aus tralia the la/id cm produce double the quantity of £Ux to the acre that can be grown in Ireland. And as regards what is the crucial point in the matter, whether the industry would prove to be a remunerative one, the writer points out that according to the Victorinu Government statist's returns from 8 to 17 bushels of seed and from 7 to 9 cwt. of flax to the acre have been grown in Victoria. Taking the average, there is, say, 10 bushels of seed and 8 cwt. of fibre. "Victoria," the writer says "in 1879, im ported linseed meal to the value of £658 for distribution by the chemists, one of whom inform? me that it is retailed at; from 6 1 to 8d per lb., according to quality, the former price being for meal from which the oil has been extracted, the latter for g»o 1 seeil. As the chemist sells out in small quantities, we will assume he only p*y3 3i per lb., whi«h ' would give the farmers 153 per bushel ; let us say he can afford to grow it for 10s. Then as to the fibre, Mr Miller, of the Victorian Rope Works, assures me that the colony can grow as fine flax as any country in the world, and that for the manufacture of his coarse articles (I m 'an coarse only as against linen articles, which is the legitimate use of the flax fibre) ha is prepvred to take from 100 tons up annually, and give from £30 to £40 per ton for it." There can be no doubt fiat the climate and soil of New Z jaKnd are as suitable f>r the cultivation ef the flix plant as the soil and climate of Victoria, a ;d considering the local inducements offered to farmers, should at once prepare 1-j.od for the seed, which must be in the ground before September is avv.c.