LINEN FLAX SEASON

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25555, 24 July 1948, Page 5

LINEN FLAX SEASON

Serious Attack of Rust

YIELDS AND QUALITY IMPAIRED

Linen flax growers had a most disappointing time in the season just concluded. Rust attacked the crops seriously, and caused lowered yields, and quality, and a great deal of anxiety to all connected with the industry. In a review of the 1947-48 season, Mr J. W. Hadfield, general manager of the Linen Flax Corporation, published in the “Linen Flax Quarterly,” says:— “The 1947-48 season, which opened so favourably, proved eventually to be one of the most disappointing experienced by the industry, due entirely to infection by rust to a degree beyond anything ever experienced or even imagined possible. It has been a most disappointing year to all concerned. Only in Southland was the crop not seriously affected and the yields normal. In Canterbury yields were seriously reduced and the quality of the fibre impaired. But one bright feature remained in that the fibre content of the straw was not greatly affected and therefore, while returns per acre were low, the grower received a reasonable price per ton for his crop. “How can we explain the heavy infection? First and foremost the season must have been unusually favourable for the rapid spread of rust. Just how to define these conditions is not easy, but it had probably to do with cool nights and heavy dews, which are conditions known to be necessary for the development of rust spores. Moreover the day temperatures were warm and a prolonged series of dry north-east winds created conditions ideal for the spread jof rust spores over a wide area.

“Such a set of circumstances may not occur again, but there is a second danger, namely, from flax which has germinated in the autumn and carries rust over the winter to become a ready source from which spring-sown crops can become infected. To some extent the danger arises from self-sown plants, the result of seed being shed during harvest, but flax is also being sown with grass in the autumn, a practice which can hardly be prevented, but one which nevertheless creates a potential danger to the flax crops in the surrounding districts. “One outstanding feature of the season’s operations was the necessity for harvesting early in an effort to save the crop before rust had seriously affected the stem, and therefore, the fibre. The effect of this early pulling on the yield per acre of straw, and on the fibre content of that straw, is now being ascertained at each factory. From information so far available it does not appear that early harvesting has reduced either the yield per acre or the fibre percentage below that of crops harvested at the normal stage of maturity. The seed yield, however, has been seriously reduced, the combined effect no doubt of early pulling and rust infection.

“The area of flax accepted as a percentage of the area sown is up to the average at all centres except Methven, where a fair proportion of the crop failed to attain the necessary height. “The percentage of crop accepted was:—

“The Canterbury factories suffered considerably in yield of crop per acre; the previous average of nearly two tons having been reduced to 1.2 tons per acre. On the other hand, as already mentioned, the fibre percentages were fairly well maintained, as is evidenced by the following table in which are recorded the fibre percentage on which crops were purchased during the two years this method of buying has been adopted.

“The poor result of the 1947-48 crop will have serious repercussions on the industry as a whole. We have in operation six factories and the, full working capacity amounts to 10,000 tons of crop per annum. We might, get by with a tonnage of say, 8000, and still keep our overhead at a reasonably economic level. But tlje position is that from 848 ft tons in 1945-46 we dropepd to 7585 in 1946-47, and this past season we have harvested only 5387 tons. We have had to curtail operations at most of oqr factories to spread the processing of what straw we have until the new crop becomes available early in 1949. To supply our requirements in 1949 and to build up a carry-over into 1950 will necessitate the growing of a large area this coming season at all factories except Winton. “Another matter to be regretted is that the United Kingdom is anxious to obtain from us. all the fibre we can supply. It is a pity, therefore, that we cannot, because of our reduced capacI ity, help more in this direction.

■ Growers are urged to regard the poor results of the 1947-48 season with resignation, and to assist in the permanent establishment of the industry by helping to maintain our factories at full capacity.”

Methven 1945-46. 1946-47. 1947-48. .. 90 82 61 Geraldine .. 94 83 94 Fairlie .. 87 99 96 Washdyke .. 98 73 96 Makikihi .. 99 95 90 Winton .. 93 98 92

1946-47. 1947-48 Methven .. 11.0 9.4 Geraldine .. 9.8 11.0 Fairlie .. 12.9 11.1 Washdyke .. 41.2 10.4 Makikihi .. 9.7 8.3 Winton .. 11.8 11.5