FLAX PREPARATION.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 189, 14 August 1869, Page 6

FLAX PREPARATION.

(From the Auckland Weekly Neivs.) In the development of the resources of any country, great hindrances are frequently caused by unwise criticism at a time when the real value of such undertakings cannot he fully demonstrated, and frequently valuable discoveries have to lie abandoned by the discoverers in consequence of the support to which he is entitled being withheld

from him through the misrepresentations of evil-disposed persons. Hence the importance of being careful in expressing an opinion publicly which is calculated to mislead those who are disposed to assist such undertakings. This has been the case with regard to our struggle with the flax. As the flax is only partially developed, and as a still more profitable ai’ticle can be produced from the phormium tenax, it is necessary to guard against any misrepresentation, whether intentionally or unintentionally made.

There are two important facts in connection with the efforts to utilise the phormium tenax, which fully justify the trouble and expense which have been taken. The one is that a profitable rope material is being produced from it, and that an article of a still greater value is capable of being produced that will prove the means of attracting a large population to the colony. It would be well if flax-dressers would endeavor as much as possible to separate the silky description of fibre which the natives produce from the coarse, as they would receive a higher price for it. There is one thing, however, which the native dressed flax possesses that European-prepared does not, and which is very detrimental to the flax, viz., a scaly substance which takes immense labor in separating from the fibres. With regard to the treatment of the flax after it comes from the machine, care should be taken not to let it lie longer on the bleaching-ground than is absolutely necessary, as the action of the bleaching agents under such circumstances is far more injurious than is generally imagined by flax dressers, and will very soon destroy the strength of the fibre. Many think that the present mode of bleaching produces a stronger fibre than if chemicals were used for that purpose. This, however, is a great mistake, and may be easily proved by subjecting a small portion of flax which has previously been prepared by the machine to a hot solution of carbonate of soda or soap for a few minutes and afterwards dried: it will be found to possess a more silky appearance and a stronger fibre than the flax bleached by the present process. The present process is undoubtedly the cheaper one, and answers the purpose well for a rope material.

For the information and encouragement of those who have embarked in the flax business, and especially those who have planted flax, we may state that important information respecting the preparation of the finer description of flax will be forthcoming at the proper time. The demand for fibrous material in England is so great that strange means are resorted to for the purpose of procuring fibre from various descriptions of rags. Left-ofF apparel is torn in pieces by what is called the “ rag-machine,” and reduced to a fibrous state, somewhat resembling a very fine flock, and 9d. per lb is frequently given for the finerdesci iption of these rags. A few pounds of good wool is used along with a large proportion of the above material, but notwithstanding all skill that can be brought to bear in the attempts of the manufacturer to produce a good article from such material he utterly fails to do so. The rags containing a mixture of wool and cotton are first steeped in a substance which destroys the cotton. They are then dried and carded, the woollen part having been completely cleansed from the cotton. The fibre is short, similar to short nails, and sells at prices varying from 4d. to Bd. per lb. Every substance that is capable of yielding the smallest amount of fibre is made to pass through processes that separates the fibre from the extraneous matter.

It will no doubt be remarked New Zealand wool is at a very low price now, therefore there cannot be a great demand for woollen fibre ; this is a wrong conclusion, for though that description of wool is plentiful other descriptions are not so, and as a fine soft fibre cannot be substituted for a hard and coarse fibre, such as is required for blankets, rugs, carpets, &c., such a circumstance cannot materially affect the coarser descriptions of wool. The prices of the articles with which the finelydressed New Zealand flax suitable to mix are from 2s fid to 3s fid per lb. The objection to the use of New Zealand flax being used for articles of clothing has been for many years that it is easily broken if tied in a knot. This is no good reason why it should not be used for clothing purposes. Let the proper draught, and twist be applied to it in the spinning process, tmd all we have said of its suitablity for mixing with costly lustre fibres will be fully proved to have been correct. Before closing these remarks on the suitability of New Zealand flax for being manufactured in fine fabrics, 1 would observe that the flax used for this purpose some years ago wasnative-dressed. What we now want is New Zealand flax

so prepared that the manufacturers can, without much difficulty, bring’ out the beauty of its fibre. In conclusion, we would remark that too much encouragement ennnot be given to the cultivation of such a valuable article as the phormium tenax.