THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVI, Issue 233, 1 October 1912, Page 2

THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

CHIEF GRADER'S REPORT. '

, Writing in the current number of the Agricultural Journal, Mr, W. H. Ferris says: — DISEASED LEAF GENERAL. , Milling operations are now well uhdor way. Although little export hemp has reached the grading-stores, the lines to hand indicate,.that, while the milling is being conducted in a careful manner, the quality of the leaf available from some swamps is not good enough for securing the highest grades. Diseased leaf is fairly general; and from reports to' hand it \ would appear that millers vail have considerable difficulty this season in securing any great quantity of the best raw material. This points to the necessity of very careful sortin£.if uniform lines are to be secured. In some cases it is probable the leaf iyill be so poor that it mil not pay to sort, but will have to be for inferior grades. BLEACHING IRREGULAR. The bleaching of some of the hemp to hand has been very irregular. Several parcels hare been of a very poor colors-green and slightly discolored. This, of course, quite prevents the fibre reaching a "good-fair" grade. Of the, fifteen hundred odd bales graded in Wellington last month fully 82 per cent, were "good-fair," yan excellent percentage for, the time of; \the*year. , SPLENDID MARKET VALUES. The better tone in the market has encouraged many Southland millers to resume operations. Over thirty mills will be in operation in that district this season. Everything points to it being the busiest season Southland has experienced for some years. • The Auckland District will probably have a similar experience. Generally the 1912-13 hemp season will be one of exceptional activity, and should present prices continue it must also prove a very prosperous ontS. FINE POSITION OF TOW. The most interesting feature of the market is the remarkable price tow is realising. This residual commodity has bean quoted by cable at a price which but a few months ago was being paid for the better qualities of phormium. The grading of tow. and the consequent improvement in get-up and packing, has brought about this much better appreciation of it.