LINEN FLAX CROP

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25739, 26 February 1949, Page 5

LINEN FLAX CROP

It is not intended at present to replace the two linen flax factories recently destroyed by fire at Methven and Makikihi, according to the general manager of the Linen Flax Corporation, Mr H. D. McCrostie. The contract with the United KFfigdom Government for the supply of flax fibre terminated last year, and the factories are not required at present. The fires have made necessary a distribution of last year’s straw, and this year’s crop, to other factories. The Makikihi flax will be accommodated at Washdyke, to which factory a large quantity has already been carted. Transport has been done with the corporation’s own equipment, and costs have been light. Methven flax will be distributed among the other factories, of which four now remain—at Geraldine. Fairlie, Washdyke, and Winton. After the disastrous experience last year with rust, which seriously reduced both yield and quality of fibre, farmers this year have had a very good run with linen flax. Almost all the crop has now been harvested, and straw weights are everywhere good. The Canterbury crop is of excellent quality, and production has been high. Some of the crops were caught a little with the dry weather, and there was hail damage to later sown crops, particularly round Washdyke. Had it not been for this, the average yield would most likely have been a record. In Southland the crop is also making good weights, but will probably not reach the record average of 2.9 tons an acre reached last year. Quality is this season remarkably even. Development of rust - resistant strains is being pushed ahead, and the corporation has eight acres of the Russian variety. Stakhanovitch, bulking up for seed, and there are further lines in the hands of the Agronomy Division. A promising development in recent months has been the sale of 30 tons of seed to European buyers. Belgium and other WesteA European countries formerly bought most of their seed from Baltic countries, but trade with that part of the world has become a little uncertain in recent years, and an opportunity for New Zealand has opened up.