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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1071, 3 August 1869, Page 3

Flax in Wanganui.— Sheep farming is not profitable, but we may compensate for that by turning our attention to the preparation of flax for the market. The industry, which is scarce three months old in this district, has made the most rapid progress, and is still going on at a rate commensurate with its importance. It is well known that there are large areas of flax both on the Rangitikei and Waitotara side of Wanganui, sufficient to afford employment to twice the present population. All this is waiting to be turned to account. But there are hundreds of farms scarcely paying expenses, which might have their value enhanced three-fold, by cultivating the growth of flax. The first experiment of the.kind in the district has- been made. Mr. Finnimore has just finished planting 30 acres of flax on his farm. He has planted ; it in flat land, and in the area named, with ♦hree feet and nine feet respectively between each altenate row ; there are 40,000 plants. The object of leaving the nine feet ; space is to allow a cart to pass between the rows. Some of the plants have been in the ground for ten days, and in that time have sent up young pboots from four to six inches in length. It is generally supposed that the flax will not have grown sufficient fpr cutting .before two years, but ; Mr. Finnimore thinks that it may be cut without, injury, and to pay, in a little over twelve' months. Land around Wanganui is not so valuable for other purposes but what a small portion of it might be planted in flax as an experiment. The result, we'believe, would be sufficient reward for the trouble and expense. Enterprise does not consist iri waiting until a thing is fully proved, but in venturing where, there is a reasonable prospect of success, and such appears to us in the cultivation of flax. : Mr. Finnimore deserves the thanks of the community for being the first to lead the way.— Tft-wg-a-. nui Herald. Manuring with Sheep. — ThsEconomist gives the following : — |* Where absence of stall-feeding in such a mild climate sets aside the necessity for.growingsuch a large, proportion of root crops, as, under the old " four-course shift,", in many parts of England, folding and feeding-off may, perhaps, be profitably substituted. At a meeting of farmers in South Australia a few years back, one member of the society gave the following as his experience ; he said : — " Some time ago I commenced to cultivate turnips, manuring highly ; the roots were 14 tons per acre ; I ploughed the tops in; the succeeding crop of wheat was 29 bushels per acre. I manured again, and where I used moist manure I ploughed it in as soon as spread. I; fed, the wheat stubble off with sheep, folded upon the ground at the rate of 600 to 800 ; per acre per day, with no other food ; I then grew a crop of peas followed by wheat, which produced 28 bushels per acre. The like results have followed the cultivation of both rape and mangolds. My rape was last year seven feet high; and marigolds from 56 to 66 lbs. per square yard, or about 100 tons of available food per acre." He adds, " Previously to commencing this alternate system of husbandry my crops did not average more than 11 bushels per acre, on a series of years." And this system is the very cheapest system — whilst the sheep are fattening the ground is fattening also. At the first, perhaps, a few tons of artificial manures must bo purchased, but now that these are procurable in every district the difficulty of applying them is trifling. Any farmer who can raise a green crop may make sure of following up a good grain crop, either if he feeds off or ploughs in. . Four or five cwt. of phosphoric potash manure or the same weight of bone-dust per acre, will be sufficient to secure this ; and the man who grudges expending forty shillings of manure per, acre ought never to hold an inch of land. Dr. Feathehston's Mission.; — Dr. Featherston left Wellington for Melbourne On Saturday evening, having undertaken, in compliance with the wish of the Ministry, the very difficult task of endeavoring to induce General Chute to abstain from withdrawing the only regiment now stationed in New Zealand. We do not want to exaggerate the difficulty, but, having regard to the positive nature of the instructions which have been sent from the War Office, : and the " obey orders if you break owners?' feeling in which army as well as navy offi- j cers are disciplined, we may be pardoned for saying that Dr. Featherston's task is no light one. All that can be done will be done by the diplomatic doctor, arid, -al- . though we are not confident of his success, .'. . we are yet hopeful — more than hopeful-^ ' sanguine th^t he ,will yfiyfpzefyrrJSveriing [ ] "POSt^J^m,:^ '--'< .'.l{'i.-l):.i ';/.. I I