FLAX.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue 9480, 6 December 1907, Page 5

FLAX.

(from Our Te Kiri Correspondent.) The question as to whether flax could b? grown here in Taranaki successfully having been asked of me, I think I will publish this information, hoping it i wiP be of interest to those who contemplate planting flax. First there is Preparation of the Land. — The land should be fairly clear of rushes, etc., ami if possible should be ploughed. The better the land is worked the greater thj returns. The land should be of a fo,ir quality, as I do not think it would pay on poor land. The reason for clearing the rushes and working the j land is that the plants have to be planted by hand (spade). Varieties of Flax — The Best to Plant — There are many good varieties ,of flax, such as Awanga, Putaoire, Ngutunui, and others' which belong to the Wanganui district. There are some of these 'growing around the coast, especially at Oeo. Plants. • :—lf: — If the' intending grower has a lot of plants' handy it is Just as well to utilise them if (they belong' to the best varieties. However, ' if" he is not able to get the plants let him go when the flax has the seed, and as soon as the pods open take the seeds home to plant. The best time to plant is as soon as the seed is gathered. It should be sown not later than the first week in July. The ground where the seed, is tc be sown should be cultivated thoroughly, say fit for sowing turnips or oats. It would be necessary to sow the seed, so as it would be covered atout half. an inch. This should Be sown in June, but on no account later than the first week in July, or the seed wilt not take. If one intended" planting a large area with flax it would be better to sow about two acres with seed, and then transplant out when about two years old. The plants require plenty of moisture, but in Tara 7 nak. I don't think that they would, require watering very often. However, be sure and take only the ripe, fullymatured seeds.

Transplanting. — Having set out the ground and being; ready for planting, the following method is as good as any Plant about six feet apart, putting, two or three plants in each place. The work has to be done with a spade. Do not bury the crown of the plant altogether, but leave the fan clear of the ground. The best time to plant is in the springtime. If the flax is not cut the autumn is when it should be transplanted : but I think it is best to cut (that is if one has bis; plants) the ortside blades off, leaving the young heart blades or suckers in the middle. TUs plants require to be kept clean tmti 1 they get a start, and they will •Waive.

Returns. — The flax if grown from seed! and in fair land takes four to five yrars before it is ready to cut, but iF from plants it only takes three years. From good varieties of flax under favorable conditions up to 65 tons of green leaf 1 may be cut to the acre, but of course it depends how the flax was planted, distance apart, etc., eto TThe amount paid for royalty for green leaf is as high as 25s 'a ton standing, and, of course this was in solid flax. However, the royalties, vary an-! the land, should it be planted well and looked after from the start, will return to its owner at least £7 a year ii royalty alone. The cost of planting is about £5 an acre; that" is what it cost .one man who has planted a large area

Grass: What should be Sown, and when. — When the flax has 'a good hold ail the leaves are strong grass may be sown. The grasses' such'a's cocfcsfooo and clover. Prairie grass may be sown and fed lightly with sheep only. Summing up, I feel sure that the flax wi 1 pay to grow, as the coast here was all flax at one time, and one man in Palemrston says, I believe, flax planting .will pay . handsomely to those, who do it. However, he has planted largo areas, and is to-day a successful man in the flax industry. I should be glad to answer questions if the matter is considered of public interest.