AHEAD OF SCIENCE.
i ♦ KNOWLEDGE OF THE MAORI. THE CULTIVATION OF FLAX. The application of science to industry has done much to increase the productivity of New Zealand soil, but in one instance at, least science lias now only discovered what the old-time Maoris knew 100 years ago. This fact was readily admitted yesterday by Dr. E. Marsden, secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, when discussing the development of the flax industry. Dr. Marsden said the Maoris had a complete knowledge of the varieties of flax suitable for their several purposes. Three of the best varieties used by the department for breeding and crossing have been obtained from old Maori women living in ancient pas. Some of the plants owned by these Maoris had been maintained for specific uses for the past 100 years, and the knowledge of the peculiar properties of the different varieties possessed by th® aged cultivators had surprised the research officers.
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21086, 21 January 1932, Page 8
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158AHEAD OF SCIENCE. New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21086, 21 January 1932, Page 8
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