PHORMIUM TENAX

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 55, 28 November 1929, Page 20

PHORMIUM TENAX

GREAT POTENTIAL ASSET THE INDUSTRY’S HOPES (From a London Correspondent.) Among the many plants indigenous to the Dominion, perhaps the most interesting is New Zealand hemp, phormium tenax. It is interesting to the botanist because of its widespread habitat— growing as it does in swamp, on mountain top, on limestone country, and in fertile alluvial soil, in wet and dry, warm and cold climatic conditions, and more interesting to the community as the source of a valuable fibre in demand in the, world’s hard fibre markets. Wakefield was one of the first settlers to recognise the possibilities of its commercial exploitation, and frequent references are made‘in his books ot the widespread use of the fibre amongst the Maoris. Indeed, he even attempted to organise its production on a commercial scale, and although only small quantities were exported to England, it was in great demand even in those early Before his time the Maoris had discovered that the fibre could be used for a multiplicity of purposes—for clothing,' canvas, nets, twine, rope, baskets, etc., if treated in a suitable way. It is probable that phormium has a long pedigree. Different types of plant have evolved under different soil and climatic conditions, with resulting wide differences in characters. Some of the present strains—and there are hundreds of them—have amazingly different physical properties, and the yield, and quality of fibre in the leaf is as one would expect, very variable. It is obvious that the producer of phormium would, if he knew how, select the strain which would give him the highest yield of best quality fibre in the shortest time.

Scientific Research.

How to select the best strain is the question the phormium prodiicer has always been asking himself, and h'e has by experience learned that certain strains, as evidenced by certain definite qualities which can be seen, will give him good results; But this knowledge has not taken him very far because of the inherent intricacy and difficulty of the task Force of circumstance has driven the industry to that most obvious but most tardily adopted weapon, research. Producers cannot be expected to equip themselves for the specialised tasks connected with research, even if they had the knowledge, which is unlikely. So the organisation of the Phormium Research Association ■ by the Scientific and Industrial Research Department is an event of vital importance to the future of the industry.. The present scheme as evolved, limited and hampered 'as it is by lack of funds, aims first and foremost at the difficult task of selecting a number of the most promising strains. This means propagation by seed and root, and examination, of the resulting plant for fibre quality and yield—a necessarily long task because even the quickest growing plants known at present take three to four years to come to maturity At the same time quick and accurate methods of determining fibre strength and yield—of the kinds of disease and means of elimination—of methods of bleaching, and other important questions are. being studied.

Its Chief Competitor.

Classed as it is.amongst the hard, fibres, phormium has to compete in the world’s markets with sisal, which is produced in immense quantities, chiefly in East Africa, Java, Mexico, and Jamaica. Last year the total world production of sisal was 227,000 tons, and statistics show that during the last few years production has shown a continual Increase. The yield of dry fibre from sisal averages about 4 per cent, of weight of wet leaf, and the plant takes the same time as phormium to come to maturity. Where, then, does the sisal industry have the advantage? It is being run on strictly scientific lines at almost maximum-efficiency. The quality of fibre is regular, strong, of. excellent colour, and regular strength. There is a continuity of supply of a big volume of standardised fibre .which has facilitated efficient marketing and consequent regular demand. It is impossible to produce large quantities of standardised phormium because the mam areas of growth are native plants. Then there is a multiplicity of strains of unknown quality and yield, lhe methods of stripping, bleaching,' etc., ot this ■ mixed fibre are primitive, and there has been no cultivation or .manuring. When it is realised that good strains-of phormium will give a yield of fibre up to 20 per cent., and that even now 12j to 15 per cent, is frequently obtained, then the basis of the future prosperity can be readily understood. In addition, the physical properties of good quality phormium -ire at least as good as > average sisal and in some important' respects these properties ensure a special market which is capable of great 0x1)01181'011. As soon as research reveals the best strains tb cultivate every effort must be made to produce, standardised fibre of high tensile strength, good- colour uneven length in ever-increasing quantities. This can only be done by efficient cultivation. The producer must realise that haphazard growth'of native phormium must prove uneconomic.

Best Methods of Processing. Maximum yield of fibre and minimum production of waste in the form of tow are aimed at, but with the present type of stripper it is difficult sufficiently to reduce waste. Efforts are being made in different countries by several engineering firms to evolve a new type of stripper ns it is in this direction that there appears to be the greatest scope for reducing cost of production. It is hoped that the Government will again offer a bonus for improved machines to act as a stimulus. Chemical bleaching and mechanical drying also offer scope for big reductions in production cost. The chief uses of phormium at present are for binder twine, ropes and cordage, and present indications are that these will continue to be the chief outlets. There are possibilities of new outlets for marine cordage, canvas and paper. Although much has been said about the manufacture of artificial silk from the fibre,: there is little possibility in this direction owing to coinpetition from the cheaper and purer wood pulp and to the lack of the physical properties possessed by cotton. There, has been much diverse criticism of the present inefficient methods of marketing. There is evidence that at last the producer is beginning to realise the value of co-operative marketing, the success of which has been so conspicuous in other directions. The present hand-to-mouth methods must be eliminated if the consumers in The chief markets are to be persuaded to give to phormium the goodwill afforded to sisal and manila. Another matter-of considerable importance is that of identity. Phormium Not Flax. Phormium is not a member of Hie linum family, the botanical name given to true- flax from -which linen is- manufactured. True flax is a very important commodity in the world s markets,

being produced in hundreds of thousands of tons. In the consuming countries of Europe. America and Asia the name "flax” is accorded only to linum. It is obvious that mistakes can and do occur when the New Zealand fibre is so called, and it is essential to give it that separate identity which it certainly deserves. • Finally, the name “phormuim” would be sufficient guarantee of identity, and it is strongly ' recommend.*! that this title be officially adopted and used by all. Although the present state of the industry may not seem to bold out much encouragement, the faet that science is at last being applied to production is of the utmost importance. There is every indincation, nay. a certainty, that’ when the problems under active investigation are solved phormium in its natural habitat with all the climatic and other advantages will become a source of wealth to producers and an industry of first importance to the Dominion.