NEW ZEALAND FLAX.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 204, 20 November 1869, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND FLAX.

FLAX CULTURE, Mr. R. D. Bush of Canterbury, informs us: operated upon, produces (under the existing process) a ton of fibre to six tons of green flux, and that from firm soils about one in five, averaging about five and a half, which is about the same as from similar districts in the North With respect to the quantity of green flax which an acre of land is capable of producing, there are patches which may fairly be estimated at thirty tons, or even upwards, while the general run of well planted ground may yield 15 to 20 tons per acre. The cultivation of this now valuable plant will ere long claim some attention. No doubt some of the first attempts will be to fill up vacant patches in land set apart for the purpose of flax dressing ; and, considering the nature of the plant, I should in such a case recommend transplanting, digging the holes two spits deep, and pulversing the soil with the back of the spade, taking up the roots as deep as possible with a little earth adhering, and cutting down just above the fan part, leaving young leaves just peeping. Two or three fans, or roots, should be planted together. I beleive that in moist ground it might bo planted nearly all the year round, but certainly with success during the season for planting trees and shrubs. During my perigrination in search of knowledge on the subject of flax dressing, &c., in the North (wherein I traversed hundreds of miles to and fro) I noticed a patch of 40 acres at the base of a scoria volcanic hill, which had been transplanted late in the spring and yet was thriving nicely. In planting unflaxed land I should say that the rows should be 6 to 8 feet apart, according to nature of soil, and in order to get as early a return as possible, the plants might be placed 3 feet apart in the rows and thinned out when full grown, which if well planted with good roots, I imagine may be likely to yield five tons or more of leaf during the first year. Producing from seed will no doubt be found to require very considerable att ntion, and probably will be best raised in pots or boxes, and carefully transplanted therefrom, care being taken to shield the young plant from a powerful sun. In fact I believe they need cover generally, although undoubtedly, like most other plants, when once fairly rooted they will be the better for cultivation and earthing; I think that even a cereal crop occupying about 4 or 5 feet between the rows, would shelter and benefit the young plants. Whether sown, planted from seedlings, old roots, or natural grown flax, intended for market, it should be carefully kept clear of live stock, particularly of horned cattle and horses. THE PROSPECTIVE RESULTS. With reference to the prospects which this new industry holds out to our present and future fellow colonists, we may just glance at what twelve months are likely to bring forth. At the present time there are upwards of 100 machines being prepared for work in this provinc, all of which will no doubt be in operation before the end of two months, and turning out about 100 tons of marketable material per weeek, employing about 600 hands, and producing at £2O per ton, only a weekly value of £2OOO. This number is, however, likely to be more than doubled by the end ot six months from date, Canterbury alone will possess 500, but say at least 400 machines, yielding about 400 tons of fibie per week, or for fifty working weeks during the year 20,000 tons, which taken at the same value will give us £400,000 per annum ; but I am convinced that £25 per ton will prove within the mark, which gives Canterbury a fine lift of £50,000 of export from an entirely new source ; and instead of retarding any other industry it will prove of the utmost

help, for these 400 mills will be employing about 24C0 hands, in a position to buy all they need. It is, moreover, a calling that can be performed by that class of labour which is of no use to our farming community, and a business just adapted for many of those occupants of our towns who try to eke out a miserable existence by small trading by which they create a most unhealthy competition. Such persons could by joining in the co-operative principle profitably employ themselves and families in flax dressing. Even the pastoral tenants of the Crown, who have unfortunately lately suffered much depression, will find a wonderful beneficial auxiliary ; and I consider that my calculations are very far beneath what may be expected before two years more are over our heads. Let us however see that the result may likely be to this island as a whole. We may safely put Otago at the same number as ourselves; with Southland, Marlborough, and Nelson at 200 each, giving an aggregrate of 1400, equal to 70,000 tons per annum, which at £25 would give an export of £1,7-50,000, employing labor to the extent of 8400 ; and if the North Island could be at peace they would considerably outstrip us, so that in two or three years hence New Zealand has an export for her in flax alone of four or five millions sterling per annum! and be it remembered it may bo calculated to yield so handsome a return for the money invested in it, that a very large amount of capital will be produced for re-investment in other reproductive channels. But as usual even this new means of reviving the state of our country has its enemies. There are always some classes of society who cannot give up their ideas without a struggle—among these will be found the scientific, who, when forming opinions or making mistakes, cannot endure to have their visions falsified. There are also the thoroughly crotchety, who cannot hear their notions gainsayed without a desperate struggle. There is the half-thinking multitude, whose reasoning has no further foundation than street corner confab; and the extremely cautious man (shall I say merchant) who must feel the shilling come into the empty hand before he lets the sixpenny piece out of the other. Yet thanks to the manufacturer of the great human time peice, whe have also the practical, persevering character ; for although science and theory have told wonderfully in advancing mankind, yet practice is the mainspring that takes the machine

along. We extract the following from an English paper respecting new clothing material, into which wo understand New Zealand flax enters as one of the ingredients :—We Globe have most of us seen or heard of paper-faced collars, but it is not generally known that the use of the same material has now been extended to less prominent but more important garments. It must be premised that the paper used for these is of great strength and flexibility, and can be sown with a machine giving scams almost as strong as woven fabric. For this reason, the inventor has particularly applied it to the production of petticoats, which are either printed in imitation of the fashionable skirts of the day, or stamped out with open work of such beauty and delicacy as no amount of labour with scissors and needle could imitate. The marvel is that the really beautiful production can be sold retail at sixpence each. Another use to which paper is applied is the production of imitation cretonne and chintzes for bed furniture, a set costing retail about five shillings. The material of which these are composed is so flezible that a curtain may be twisted into a rope and shaken out again, showing as little creasing as a chintz similarly treated. White day covers _ for beds, and tablecloths embossed with designs of great beauty, will doubtless attract much notice. In fact it is impossible to look at them and consider their cheapness without thinking this ‘ felted ’ paper may in the end have a serious influence on the production of the woven fabrics it is intended to displace. The list of articles for which it is employed does not end with those we have enumerated. Imitation leather made impermeable to water makes a cheap and useful covering for furniture, and even serves for shoes. Altogether, this new material seems likely to start a new and important branch of industry.