MANAWATU PHORMIUM.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1473, 22 June 1912, Page 18

MANAWATU PHORMIUM.

THE FLAX CENTRE OF NEW ZEALAND.

23,000 ACRES BRINGING £324,875 YEARLY.

WAGES, £149,500 ANNUALLY.

Although in his journey through the Manawatu between Wellington and l'alraerston North the casual train traveller is usually impressed by the sight of large Box areas, flaxmills, and acres of bleached flax lying white on tho green paddocks, he is not always awaro that at tho tiino h-a is viewing what is undoubtedly a chief section, of. tho flax growing metropolis of New Zealand. As a matter of fact, at the present time, wlion one talks of flax production in the Dominion, it is Mtinawatu first,, the rest'nowhere, the respective ratios approximating 85 and 15 per cent. It is only in tho Manawatu that flax practically exists in such density, in such laTge growing areas, and under such special conditions that tho industry can bo pursued with a fair profit and success. In tha course of years the industry and the ingenuity of man have harnessed. 23,000 acres of what were before considered to be worthless. swamp lands, and reclaimed them as a. valuable asset to the district ond Ihe! whole country. . Manawatu Flax Lands. . These flax areas comprise 'tho Alaksraa Swamp,; which includes all the lam! on tho eastern sido of the Manawatu I!ivor,

£9 per. ton for tow, t!io respective values would bo JMGO.OOO ami .K1!),TI!0 las. fill.— a gross total .of 4:499,730 las. 5(1. This is tlio millennium the Manawafu flaxmiller is looking and striving for. JTe'tias gone through long years of travail, but (hero is reason to belioro that ho is nenring llio ond of his troubles. He at any rate has stuck through thick and thin to tlio business, whether prices were high or low. and his tenacity lias been tlio means of keeping the industry on a proper basis. In 'this respect the. Manawiitu miller 6hows a marked contrast to his brother in the South Island or in tlio Auckland district. It is 'noticeable that such ports as Auckland and the Hluff produce a considerable imoimt of hemp when tlio prico is very high, say, about 420 per ton j but as soon as values drop to 4:21 or .£'2o the quantity produced in tlio vicinity of these ports falls away, until at the present time, with tlio price at .£l9 for "good fair," the output outside Mamiwatu hardly counts.

Drainage the Salvation. Drainago has in a way bfeu tho salvation of tlio flax industry in the Manawatu. Taars and years ago thousands of pounds were spent T>y tlio then owner in attempting tij drain Jloutoa. Much good was accomplished in this way, and it is estimated that fully a thousand acres of flax were also uprooted, and tho uveas turned

between Linton and Shannon, and totalling U,GCO acres; the Moutoa Swamp, which includes all the land 011 the western side of the llanawatu Itiver, from Shannon Bridge to Foxton, 37C0 acres; llax land west of Longburn, 1500 acres; and other areas, such as Oroua Bridge, Kupu-tm-oa, 3110 acres. The whpl.e area is bounded by Foxton, Shannon. Levin, Linton, P&lnierstoii North, and liongotea. It is a flax area-drained and worked 011 the most systematic lines, with half a hundred miles, fitted in many cases with solid machinery built to last, and controlled by captains of.Jimhistry, who have devotee! half a lifetimo to the study, of the industry. The result is that year by vear what was before a worthless waste is feeing won back as .a valuable property, paying its way, and giving employment which feeds hundreds of mouths daily. 111 tho districts of Tokomaru, Shannon, and Foxton one is seldom away from the harsh rasping sound of the stripper, and flax, in the green leaf, 011 tho bleaching fields, or dressed and ready for export, salutes tho eye everywhere. Iron tramlines run their devious -ways through tho' great flax fields in all directions, and provide a roadway along,which the fpeen leaf is transported, in some coses right to the mills, in other cases to. tho banks of tho Jlanawatu Eiver, where it is shipped in' punts down from fiv-o, to twenty miles to tho mills at Foxton, or. as at the mill owned by the Whitaunui Company, it is transported over tho river by an aerial wire cable, and deposited almost at tho instant ready for tho stripper.

Interesting Figures. . Tho figures of this work make interesting leadiug. Thero aro in all 52 mills, employing from 1000 to 1200 men, who aTO paid annually in wages nlono (approximating the cost at i£lo per ton of hemp produced) ,£119,500. The flax output from this district just now is at tho rate of over 11,950 tons of dressed fibre and 2875 tons of tow, valued respectively at ■££59,000 and ,£25,875, the total reading JC324.875". Over the 23,000 acres this works out at the rate of 13 cwt. cf flax and 21 cwt. of tow to tho acre. It is contended that under the improved conditions, through further development of the land, and machinery improvements which will euablo a higher percentage of fibre to be taken out of the raw material, tho land before many years should bo capable of returning 3 tons of fibre, and the proportionate, increase of tow in lour jcars; or, fatter still, 1 ton of fibre and its proportion of tow per acre per annum, in which latter case, at J!2O per ton for flax and

into, what is now very . fine dairying country. The cost of the drainage work, however, was mi enormous weight on Hie estate, and as the flax business was in those days an absolute gamble, 110 special value was placed upon the swamp areas. To-day; tlio value of this drainage work is being appreciated, and is being continued on approved lines which leave 110 doubt whatever as to tho successful issuo of the undertaking. If such a thing were to happen that the Hex industry were to become absolutely unprofitable as on investment in tho course of years, the land would then be ready for dairy farming.

The Makerua. The situation nt Makenia roads like a romance. Tito Manawatu lfailway Company first demonstrated that it was practicable to drain this swamp, and they spent si good deal of money on the work. It was the general opinion that the swamp could not be drained, but tho company proved otherwise, and then disposed of tho remaining portion of tho swamp, comprising 12,313 acres to tho Makerua Estate Company, a syndicate which was formed by Dr. Chappel, the lato Mr. John Plimmer, Sir. Sydney ICirkcaklie, and Mr. Alfred Seifert. Nearly everybody prophesied disaster to tho enterprise, but the critics were confounded. The Estates Company in turn disposed of sections of the property to the TVhitaunui aiid To Mukauui Flax Companies, 1650 acres and 800 acres respectively, and also to others, amongst whom Messrs. G. Crow, Crow Bros., J. Liggins, A. and L. Seifert, and the Tokomaru Flaxmilling Company wero tho principals, and the work of further drainago was commenced. Tho Makerua Estate Company purchased from tho Manawatu Company in 1002, and the labour of drainago has thus been actively conducted for fully ten years. It may be mentioned that tho Estates Company, before disposing of any portion of their interests, spent thousands of pounds in running arterial drains all over the area.

Reclamation Work. Tho work of drainage, which was continued by the several owners was now extensive. Main drains were rim through the various properties, intersected by a further series, fifty chains each apart, which in turn were cut by other drains, 10 chains apart. The whole area was thus converted into a chess-board of drains, and somo idea of their total length may bo gauged by the fact that on Messrs.

A. and L. Seifert's 4200-acro block there aro GO miles of (trains. During tho process of tho work some interesting tions were niiiile. it was shown in some cases Hint a blorlc of land would cut II") lons of green leaf per aero along tlio drain, and only 111 tons if away from it. Tliis meant Hint a largo urea of Iho leaf was very inferior as records length, thus entailing extra cost in Iho way of cutting and training. In six'ii Uinji on tlio subject to a Dominion - representative, j\lr. A. h'cit'ort said (Itnl tlio obvious necessity was to make Ihe land produce lirsl-elass flax. Previous experience in Hie growth of flax in llio I'aialca land, near t'oxlon, luul proved to him (hat drainage sweetened flax lnnd; that iT the land was covered with water for a large part, of the year, especially in Ihe spring, the growth of llax was very poor: tint that, if the ground was kept reasonably dry in Ihe spring, so that the rains could warm Ihe roil lo some depth, (hen (he growth of llax would bo rapid. The result was ns anlicipated. The qunlily and ihe quantilv of Ihe leaf began gradually to improve. Kliix areas that previously grow only a weedy leaf began to Hlirive, and produce a denser growth, while the blades began lo longth--011.

A striking example of llio virtues of cultivation is provided by Messrs. A. and L. Soifort. who keep a rccord of the several yields from (heir (lax ureas. In lIWS they inailo a lirst (Milling on a block of (12t acres. The viold was 1280 tons. Nearly four years later (to be e.vacl, forty-six months), llio same area was out again, when the yield was S:!li" tons, a gain of 2G!I per cent., or over (SO per cent, per nullum. Simitar experiences, although not in such striking figures, have been recorded at Whilauniii and other mills. The Toi-Toi Nuisance. Another trouble which faced tho growers was toi-toi, which covered largo areas. This had to 1m eradicated, in order to allow the ground to produce flax of greater quantity and better quality. In some instances, of course, the growth of flax was so dense that further cultivation was practically impossible, still tho toi-toi had to be shifted. Much money has been spent on this work, which is still being proceeded with, and is now usually dono within a. few. months of the flax being cut, when it is possible to get over tlio ground more easily. From tlio foregoing it is easy for the

layman to understand that flax cultivation is very much like wheat and wool growing—the object of the grower in all cases being to produce uniformity and a good length, density and quality. It may lie added that the work of draining the huge swamps is now, as it were, 011 its last lap, and it should be completed in the course of a few years, when land that was at one time not valued at more than ss. per acre will have been converted into somo of the finest flax-growing and grazing areas in New Zealand. No doubt many portions of it will always be subject to flood, but tho land is sO'Wcll drained that in many places tho water filters away through the porous soils to the canals almost as soon as it falls.

What Drainage Costs. It is hard to estimate what the work of drainage and clearing has cost, but tho expenditure lias run into many thousands of pounds, and it still has to bo continued. While tho actual amount spent in cultivation is not great, tho growing cf flax entails a greater expenditure in tho Manawatu than probably any other crop in tho Dominion, and the amount spent in draining, fia:;-cutting, and milling even now approximates ,£8 per aero per annum, exclusive of labour employe:! in cartage, transport, and fuel. Side'by side with the difficulties of cultivation and draining and the nightmare of low prices, the miller* have been faced with tho knowledge that a further handicap was that tho crude machinery in use was not doing justice to the fibre in tho way of production. Tho Manawatu millers have had a shoal of troubles, one way or another, and the question may bo asked how it has been that they have stuck to tho'business. The answer is that they were men who have (absolutely committed themselves to the industry. They are "in tho game" for all time. •.

Take the business twenty or thirty years ago, when the annual output from "New Zealand would range from 891 tons in 1880 to 4012 in 1888, 21,080 in 1800 and 1800 tons in 1893, or in tho preceding years kick to 1870. when the output would fluctuato in all directions. Flax was looked upon as a sort of waste product, which landowners did not value. It v.-as regarded in a measure as a weed, and if it happened to bp. at a decent price men would run up temporary mills. Most forty-year colonists remember these "mills"—a portable engine which had seen its best days, and a ramshackle slab building.

In the last twelve years flax-millers of a different typo have entered into the busi-

noss, nml set to work !o ncrmaneiftly establish themselves on a- fufisliK'tortf basis. They laid down tnreo, csil-ninYil points First: lo obtain in;; Ilee.nold- o[ fli-n 1 :nnl■ Second: lo imnrnvn it. ;lli;;ru• -|.:i) c<iii'. ■slriiot nml crimp. tnil.s which l>;v comparison Willi llio older fvpr- might be. described lis in oi ior' ii kii-limu'S. ■Spccni'l -i-.llus-tralions i>l Ihi.s .niodorii Ivpi! iire Messrs.

■A. mid Ij. Si'ilci'ls m",:;'li-m|'i poiT inrUs ill. 'rolioiiiaru,. IJin lurgcsl; lit ;mhv /'cii' In lid, anil llie \\ inl.auiv.u! (.rmiipiv.uv s 100.r.sli'i|ip;'i- null Isi'lHT!'!! J o.ilmi ami .slinniion, a mill wlhimi l.ni' .slaiiililv, cijunp--inriil. nnd ino.llio.d is oiro ot lh(< lirsl o! il- Kind in lno Dominion, i 10-c mill'i liavo each co •(. miiin' lliiiiisaiuls of .iiiiiiiiils lo or I ml ill Iu„ I In s\\lii Ii niv lihiijj pui'snod', li.v Ihc-c cuiiniiiiiKS lliiil llio tut ii if> .sii.ci'css oi t■: lo llii-x imlnsIr.v in New /caiaiul may bo smd lo iio. Si in nll ii 11 roil sl'.v Vi.i.Hi tlHir (Icsiro ior roniflux locloriL'Si Mlo-o nrf'ii looi; in liaml llio wmi' ol .tiiiprnviins jirodmdio.ii by llio IIM> ol a bcllcr oiiiss ol ttinriln.ilory, brinuni!,' i.tup-Jo llio. modern mrllmdiiml iilloccllip.i' 'innliiiip. ;v piiomir nltonnrt lo rim llio bii'-in.i'.ss on lijivmio-s lines. A Din Improvement. The introduction, ol Messrs. i liarir-s SuU (io iiiul \\vnvard.s: auuimalie. ivii<-liiup-miudiiiios mid iisiioinnlio siiilehors ,liiiv.u rovoliilKiiused tins:, pni'tion' oi llio iiiilnslit. JJncflv.. this' sontulier and wnslier folds llio bunks of hbn* Iroin Mm hlnpper over an ciulioss' truycuiu;;. cluiiiv wlnclv then runs the. material, lishll.v lield, lliraUßli u wasliins. inachino, nliero il m flayed ot all yogi'iabli! mailer, and. as it were, fculched. in wator. nnd4hcn delivered. still on the chain. In an operator, who hanks 'it.-ready for bieudim? purposes in the .paildock-s.- lilt-re is. no doubt tlint Iho.tflieacy ot -fins, patent has. solved a great -problem, in-llio methods ol manufacture, 'iimlvvit .-has: denionslwued that much more might bo ilone iu llio some way rcprdini? teedmg' the .slwpp.er and in scutehin?,

Stripper -Improvements. Improvements" are.- being constanlly mado to tho istnppc-r,. Until it -can bo--done awav with tliro.'.igh- vlio- jutradueuon of sonio clienueal treatment, tho. liun n. .success in the v.-nv.oi nianutactino nil I. lie with tho-stripperi lir tho .conversion of the ran into, marketable .hemp unless' tho stripping is v.idi .dono it is realised. 1 that tho lautf cannot "bo -remedied by any additional...amount- of. wmk oi caio m the subsequent.--.'process;.. -J.be-. niachinqshave been latch-.-very,' ■considerably; linprovod. both ait-'tho • ! directwa- .ot - m-i creasett capacitv -cind- improved quality, of tin woil a(i i ll is li li th» pioneti lias bun All II <ne 0 ji it mine aid manager of tlio-.-.\\-!iit;ui.iii-.aiut-th.o-.--.1.0 Mnkiinui (;'iii|iair.is mil!-. • , That tho lniiir.o.vc-iiients.-ar.e a inatter, ofoxtiemely fmo -de'ai! is. -ii.rov.ed In. the. fact tint lei five ears 0 ti' Ins been experimenting. ..Willi- abeviiaeiU'or-iirs trodiicin? a movement i>v:- wluciv ■thot-iua-: chine will autoii!a.ica!lv' , .adi.us.c-.''iiselt. to compel ik h the vain »tn c'i ss if fibre .in tho ;butt -and-., vail ot iho leai. Flax, lias a tJiir-k -b;tt! a.'ii! a-t.'im. end, and tho mcciianiealvart. !Si:»to ..produce : .a. ; hank sho\i-ing"-.-.go:iei-al ■■..uniformity, inevarv re-pecl. the -v.c.rk ikiii;; .turned:, out bv this sli-ijiper' is...now. very.;.Jine: in.dcctl. iho machinc:- w-hich-iiuav now ,beseen workui!r:. at.*aiiv time-.-at: has a drum cv..t.v. a : .ilrtim .' spindle three, inches in.hi ani -31 e i-, .tho, to ta 1:weight being:l7.V;owi;. ..•.-J-ho-'drutiu-feed- • rollers and mouih-pieeo ■-.have-.■ all;-.been, greatlv incroascd--in :WKlHi;;'giving greatly . increased capacitv.. and the larious parts ■ of tho machino are:S3.;placed-.-aiul 'balanced: that there ir. no more vibralion .1:1. the machine than.-in .tho'flv-wlioei.ot-itha eiir- ■ gine. Otlieri'.i-improvenients ...wlncli. 'hail. beeii effected, generallv'iiii tlieosifanaivatu. district, are a good*clns^'ofcengiiw-and.• driving nncli ■» } 'Hit tc lilt itta i.ed is a reduction ?of. ninmag:'.expenses,, .ivitn. a better and.Parser, output. .-

Wanted, a Better Proccss. It is Ilia hupo of Ihk flaxmiiler.' I'bat niliinateiy lie may lie nolo jo do away .with the present bleaching,. ;uid scutcning, and that tunn mita'r : tne pro coss manufactnre;';ihay 7% isiiiijilifiwi; ijmit. use made ot ilax suclt as 'gi'iin, dyes, aud meclieihai <ii::ta4ail-oi w;uo!i are now wasiiub'Tcw, tho only by-p,ro ; iluct no far iitiL'i=e.(L; : ; hiis try from tonipoi'ary.T.«K.UnptfGii;;' r iin<L 'if;ameans can ' byproducts bo brov.;_rht into use, this/lax prodnciiiff 'woiißli no doubt be.greatiy extruded. Willi this object in view, the New Zealand (iovernment bns agreed'to' pay ,£l2,o(lo'as a bonn-i or bonuses ior. improvements.'in coimection with Hi?-exlraelion. and (irf.ssing <? fibre from tho jSewj;Keaiand'?plant;'or .the' utilisation of tis«ljy-ijrtKl \ii-ts obtained during- the 'proccss).otS&traJting* - fibre.' Under the advice:o.f.:.,th'6Vflpi'ai'tnient iiiterested, Ur:',Cockaymj;.;W;;no\v:,preparing..: for publication , an" analysis .shtwins ,thp.': chemical propartk-s.of flax. .Applications for tho bonus, which w'ere:to'clc-io oii November 30, November 30,,'11i15. ,So i»i: the improvements in Xew Zealr.nd.aro of the ineelm'nical order, under tiw-treatment of practical men, andyiiero.us'ind.': <liouljt<-'that''.lieforjo! long much more will be accomplished in this rcspect.fUf/'a';clieiu'icaf''.process could'; be introduced winch would tin :nvay with tho present 'mode or bl'.-aehiug the: flax; much good would result, bat so fur it has not been found. -A trim.efl'iioiisvwaste and cost is undergone '• through the.' Jatmps--' pherio bleaching. Mt is tinnod.out' for-six to eighteen days, turned over and spread out, and thou:.;jf Hhd.'w.e'ather : is .wot'itvis. further handled by being placed on drying wires. In addition, to tlufoxpeuse of continual handling, tln-re is- a. trer.iendbas waste of materia!, and much (k-tcririra!: in goes on when the mat-ona! "is exposed. to the weather;;'.,.. t

Flax Growing Pes ibilities In the coursc'iof.. the it lias bceii'.sliowiv that-, as- uir ;industrvj with decent 1 :pnoes, flax, is- a.splendid industry. especially--in ;t!io way it will, recall swamp and' .wisat would :beGlnerwiss: waste lauds,to .a.-proner sphere:. ot-useiuW ilsss. It provides, iplenty: of ■ employment;, and if the mothons: :oi mamifncnire; .cp.iv be improved:; simultaneously .with:. ,tno. work of cultivation-;. much' ®rm-ter4-areas might be tanned.*. witn. ..the 1 -, result.-.that, much greatefccniDlovnient could bo given. Good money is earned bv men in. the mills, and tnc,.question.resolves' ltselfajnto? on« of stilt iurther -increasing: the: fiax-v growing area, of," the. ;Do.miuion.-i.. Practical flax-growers', declare* ■tnat: itliero- ,, is i a considerable - area- both: im l li.o -Manawatiidistrict aud: : m other..portions,. of'.-the. Dominion that:, could 1 be .better, utilised, for iiax glowing tin 1 101 in\ other p ,) « At the pieseit t 11 f ven little s 1 10 n about llax planting.-.although iiuiisibers of. people avo .aware:, tnat- it. will-: grow if transplanted for "from -scedi lf-tplanted'-iir the nutumiv,..or, ■wmlcr. .In. the <vi-e of triui c plaiitation.;:whcre ..only .oiic.,-.:fa!i,'- is put in- it vcrv..soon: sends: nut snoots, so that in the course/of ions- or live years, there will appeal': 1 , .nonivhftec!'.. to :t went v; fan I his 1-, pi i"*u 1 11 1 'hit 1 known ibo 1 ilutii he l\ou <n Stotn Lnrm ■■■■there is growing practically evuv mitt 0 l nx 1 110 mi iliis )h\ proves I hat .w.liere too ground "is us: a. suitable nature;- well cukixated; :and ifthe 1 )oK 11 l r u p'n f ed the ciop* wo i'd malare in tioni to- ,ii.yo .years. :ar.u cut up to tiveiitvsfi.y.e i;i: tiin-tv:. tons of? green loaf: per '.:ac.i:e; W beu -sov/iiv . the llav would 111 ui 1 f „ht cois Ksp iicnu 1 d(cn tint 11 the ground:' is.'-thoroughlyr-ciiitivakd. befoi 1 1 „ 1 d foi *"11 Till , ose fx plaining :s ,a lailure. .■anit. beier-canv, settled altempi: -is, mads (o- 'iuttaec uerciop: this portion, nf -the. extensive' expernnciits- s.nould:. be-..earned: .out- with: a view to ascej:laining.:W"!iich .variety.gives tin IIHI I p c ita„e of tn ( Ik quality, and'-which .'matures llie (iuickest-;'

Diftirul! to Cut. The ■■■flare grows. in a. irnysHi.it' make-: it (lilncuit In -put without'? dam-; agiiiS Hi? j)!ii'it.: As .t nro'iiljonts iiilie- leaves: to cvei'V ..hill. I'our oi' five ; : of. Hie leave-:;.-are.- -liioi'o.iighl.v. -matured; being llio outside, icavcsi 'and- ■■tko=p. remain lut; m> titCf.cenlre;,ol the, :''ianv."' .;Vn> maturing. ■■It-only- jour of; the .111110 denves: wore out (that.. iK;.>lw.o on : en oil' side that -are...■ lliorojifililv. matured) liiml would yield-a,.much 'groator--.nuaiUitv'' of fibre per .annum, 'and tho fil've ii'Uii. of a more.: .uniform, rtiiwuty. InstoYul ( jf an area of. lilax, being cut once 111 four years—it takes that tune- to mature with tlio present system- ot cutting. Uioi cioj)—■ the I]ax area should be cut over eacii-'vear talcing only, those leaves .-that rt'ro thor- ; onsjlily matured,. lo rcaliso what this would mean ono. lias only to- visit n <];iT swamp where, a ~ crop:, has. bpon wit; which is tour years, old.- The .amount, of dead' (las on th« ground proves. that, -fully- the weight of the' crop, .has-mod- down. Under (he svsteui of cutting only--matured leaves', this loss would not; take, place. To bet', tor realise th'r? pr«*r,t rcefiii:! nf out',in? fiai, -whicli;?' HoTCoypjji: .!(kpjgf>an9i' 'tq- bo un-

avoidable, it is. Oi)!v liyoiiiysonn inoiirJiK Imm llio tiui.o- Ilia leal shows- ii si in li is (lend-. ilia.L w for m-ill-i.ni: purposes. 1 Ni | Wmls when: miliers. In,l It .of a ('rop I.Krvm: I lour years old l-he.v m.cii ir iho nop I Intl. H:is beon lour veins misli:imiij:•; Juu. hi .a I'i'iip i.lllll. ]! 11M l.'llfCll fo.ltl' Villi's Iff Jll!!lurii there is mil n. leal over- nwi years <11 111 n ml 111 II i\ mil 1 \ ■< \ i luii a'imu's nil! always ilrad livl<hi- iliul: • riaie: I.lms >i'.n;('S 10. .p.i;ovo lliiil. our picKcfll; : MH'I lliiil ol full mi! Il.ax rail'.;!"-, ;i spi11 si oi 110 111 |111 1 I 1 I I ' 111), | W \ lis Ii i 111 il sli 111 l 111 l I'll 1 II ll l | 'il Si 1< 111, 111 II lil IK '1 ix I I nil I To'lll 1 ll'.M lulll'llauoil. |

live- n.CiiiCily-. li. him" In-erni.oiv 11s>■ l-,'il;eiv as- an nreeplnit liii-'l: III;.' llio liind v. ■nli', i ich.l (liiiilykv llio i|iinilt il V of li in tv per iiu.il.i.Hii II <l 1 \ 111 111 111 l(I I nsi (l (ill 11l Hii.bu'el. has liccii. deals, ivilli -roincr lifi-lv i.oi- llio piir-iiose ol sliiM.viii|; liiji.l. i!- Is ■Iin 1 tdo. costly lo cut any of (lie vniiic.iicn oi 'lax Iml ai( i\U isiuh in »» I » 111 111 lllfl ]!iirp(lS(!s 111 ll Wil ; V lliiil Mould -1.1.0.1-da da ii, II i | i is llio Ii tiei a Ii liio !ij«!il; .vii- we.iir.h-t. A uiaii mnrld u.ol cut. ifivd'er the -s.li|.'Kesleil- new ('(ilKli-l-.lotis iiioiio than lllcivl. per (lav; bill n; l;-v .selection or olliei ".vise: a variel v-01. !lii.\- -iviis urovvii wilh. leaves Ili roc or lour tunes .us-llPiiv-y :is tho pre.'-eii.t varieiies. -Jim!- -I he flox Jvi.o piaiilci! J.':" run-, csper-ut sav that, b.v iMilliiK,'onlv llio nniliircfi lenvesi. flax -ciiiild bo em; .ami. trainnieil into tlie. ■mill at it lower pneo (hail, it ■■can., be(lelivered under Hie prcseui conditions... I'-urlher Iliau that. !.lio- -illSlicultv- tinw ; ex-. peincneed of scnouslv (Iniiiiipuiß thoi-jilanis.-ivlien tiros flax -is out in. Aonl. Ma v. -or -Juno would not. then osist. betanso,. rulr ■ling -only matured -Ira.ves --.disrijipr- .dii.ese ■months, -would not. ha.vc- a detrimental, efloi't on t lie plant;

It Iras bcen-'S.iiSßesled. .that there ;is. hero a "(treat openin}; -for.- garoeners and liotan■isU ,to- --produce -a. flax- plant-that ivoiild. mature, quickly, have heavy 'leave.', 'and (rive -a- high -quality of -librc. '.

Whatever v.icw- -■ one- take.; of ilin ;n----(liislry ono pees in it -vast possibilities?" sucltr as. nnprovoments in 'tno: .present methods- of- .dressing flax, fliuhng. a-use ■ ■for tho- by-products..- and ■'idovciopni(»j,.-.a-belter '.flax, -plant.tnat will allow onlv ma-.-.lured- .leaves to -bo. : cut. clieaplv- l.p to ■ die p.r.csentj :Nciv-'/ealaß(l..l!asi oiiiy .touch■

fd .the. fringe of tln> ilax industry, ami' .-.-it; triistedS thSt';)iefore':;]oiif:; 'botanists, chemists, and ;:iecha:iics .'\;i!i, combine :to make llax-mil'ii.iig biic of the jfirst jhd.ust'iifts' in: the Boni'miOn-. Undue Taxation ef Flax Lands, . . A subject, which might very woll-coiir .elude.' 't'lifi' 1 ani.'cje: i's- '.tile' taxation 6i. flax.'; lands.. ■ "i'' ''■■■ ■-. ; (D\vnbrS,of.. . flax land ' urge that they have . good'* :rea«on Hi -'.. con:'- - plain of the. taxation on their, land; 'Tljcy?;liaVb tholKiiioui- to- be - tho: ())ost': Highly-taxed land-owners I in;', the Woiiiifc ion. The profits derived from flax-farm- : .'i!Vg'"ar^iiablo*..tft)incoiii&stai,:;whi^^the. : p'rulits derived, from any other class oi farming are tio* liablo .to income 'tax?i?lt' hn«s l>cen said that there "is r.o effort, rerinircd .to prodn.cft flax.' 'I'o those.propk. : .v.:ho : hqld;. ; thafc.opiiiibiiL".it lh.nyibp^nstojiisUr-..' itig' to.;. We .: told- that the .Malrerua Estate Company was formal ; and/:stai : fod:'v td,, drain 'lie swamp in. July, 100.7, .t3>:it is ten 'years. iijys am'! that there.' arc certain Areas of flax in tho swamp that have, not 'been touched, and a considerable ;area; ' : was only, eat last year, nine i years after tho company had ' paid the :Mah'a'w'j'fn Railway ;Qompapy^'foi\'■■ tli'eJ land., This moan's flint the . money . (int .- sip to buy. the. land, So jsut in-the.drains.. ■andiSjKiy .'rafei:. '.bo?if- So interest '^pr-;nine : : ''yce.rs';L'l ; hiS is jiis.f as. hard t;o : grow am! fbproi'.'hi.v' develop '.Sj. any other crop, and thai "it 'Tafe.'inpro, .irerscyeraiice: thiin any 'other ereip, lippajisii, (hi.riiig-;:tiic< long period .cf developmou!;. it_ is' liablo fo bo burnt. , Affer ihe troj) is.fully d'eveloprid the risk' 'of:fire;...is: vdi-y sniall. for .rea'sohs-. w.hicli; a'ra easily uiid n rstood by' any ninn v;]io .lakes' tlic trquljlo to' iiispcct a tliat. is, Iwing developed, aridtjifie^ dr-velopod..' Flax-hind owners are always : Willing to bear iheir.shniA of any netessary taxation, but. (hoy resent bsiii" singled oi;!, and iiavjiig a .burden placed on .their land 'that' is not hori.V in the case c? any. oilier .class-;of. fanning} The. present method of. taxation 'gives small cne.purage.'acnt to flax cu'tivaficn.