LINEN FLAX

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 174, 20 April 1942, Page 6

LINEN FLAX

Result Of Trials In The North Island As a result of trials carried out last season under the supervision of the Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture, the extension of commercial linen flax growing to the- North Island is not considered practicable under present conditions. Following tlie successful establishment of the industry in the South Island in response to Great Britain's wartime demand for linen flax fibre, a number of autumn and spring sown areas were grown in tlie North island last season, but less than 25 per cent, produced crops suitable for processing.

“Unfavourable weather conditions, both in spring and later during harvest, prolific weed growth following uneven crop establishment aud the incidence of diseases which adversely affect both growth of the plant and quality of fibre, are factors of fundamental importance, making the establishment of the industry a doubtful proposition in the . districts iu which trial sowings were made,” said the department's crop experimentalist. Mr. A. G. Elliott.

Tlie districts selected for the trials were Rangitikei, Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa, where soil and climatic conditions are comparable with those in some of the South Island centres. The essentials tire soil of the medium loam type, reasonable rainfall for tlie growing plant and warm, dry conditions toward harvest time to allow even ripening and drying out of tlie crop after pulling. Exceptionally cold and wet- weather was experienced after autumn sowings in all districts, and this seriously affected crop establishment. Frosts and small birds caused additional damage. For spring sowings, the wet weather caused difficulty in seedbed preparation, and in a number of cases Hie desired line, firm soil conditions could not be obtained. In spite of this, fair establishment followed sowing, lint a later dry spell resulted in a loss of vigour and density of stand. Prolific weed growth, specially of willow-weed aud redshank aud in some districts spurrey and fallien. invaded Hie ilax areas and made pulling wlien crops were mature very difficult. All Hie autumn and some of the spring-sown crops were inspected by officers of the linen ilax section, Plant Diseases Division. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, ami tlie Fields Division, Department of Agriculture. Early -sown crops were classified according to suitability for fibre production. Only a few of the areas were finally harvested for processing. The material was stocked and stacked am! is now being deseeded. The seed will be added to tllSlt secured in the south anil the straw will be baled and forwarded to the Blenheim factory for. processing.

In all cases growers were given a minimum price guarantee, either for growing and stacking accepted, ciops, or a less price an acre for trying out crops not up Io processing standard in new localities. Where crops were rejected acceptable nmehine-dressed seed harvested by tlie grower is being purchased at an agreed price.