FIFTY YEARS AGO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16215, 28 April 1916, Page 8

FIFTY YEARS AGO.

'v? DRESSING FLAX, r. J HOUSEHOLD* OCCUPATION; (From the Ribald of Anril 28. 1866.) The discovery of, a score of simple an 1 inexpensive pi-ocesses by ■wlikh the nati\ e flax plant of New Zealand m;iy bo profi - ably converted into a marketable commodity haa infused into tin community generally a feeling of hope and confidence. The plant abounds in ifcj wild <\tate throughout every district in this province, and is capabla of being oltivatov. as.an, ordinary crop, on somo portion at least of most farms. It has been demonstrated to general satisfaction that it can be rendered , a marketable commodity, worth from £30 to £70 per ton. It is also equally certain that the Homo market cannot, however largely we enter into its cultivation and preparation, bo glutted with the supply. Simple and inexpensive machinery—already invented in tho province, and by which, in tho caso of Mr. Murray, at Papakura, ono man and a boy and a horse have produced 3cwt of dressed flax per day—will cause flax-growing and dressing to become a household occupation in every country homestead. The newlyeettled immigrant will find in tho dressing of flax an auxiliary which will enable him with ease and comfort to overcome the first difficulties of early settlement.