FLAX PLANTING AT TANGIMOANA

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6889, 20 April 1929, Page 4

FLAX PLANTING AT TANGIMOANA

VALUABLE AREAS DEVELOPING. In the sand dune reclamation work carried out by tho Forestry department at Tnngimoaua, New Zealand flax has played an important part and has become well established on the low lying areas. During a visit to Tangimoana on Thursday, a reporter was informed by Mr. D. L. McPherson ,hcad of the Forestry department in Palmerston North and district, that approximately 60 acres of flax has been planted, an inspection revealing that in all cases the plants have become well established. The first plantings of flax were made between 1921 and 1922 but the work has only been carried out to any extent during the last two years. In a period of 18 months the young,plants Lave taken a good hold ou the sandy, and to them unsuitable soil, and now average about four feet :n height. Naturally, the growth is not' so pronounced as in tho swampy native haunts of the plant, but at the same time, the results of the phormium planting have been most gratifying. Mr. McPherson expressed the opinion that the leaf of the young plants was of good quality and that there is every indication of the flax areas developing a large commercial value. At its present stage of growth, the flnx forms shelter for the grasses which are now binding tho sandy soil and ■.as a double utility, in that it helps in the reclamation work and is developing, every year, commercial possibilities. ,