FIRST LINEN FLAX CROP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23861, 11 January 1941, Page 11

FIRST LINEN FLAX CROP

EARLY ASHBURTON START [nr telegraph—own correspondent] CHRISTCHURCH, Friday The harvesting of linen flax grown in Ashburton County began this week with the arrival of several of the pulling machines manufactured in Chriatcliurch. The first crop was harvested at Rakaia. The machine was rej>orted to be worWng satisfactorily, although as yet no estimate can he made of its capacities because of the halts and minor adjustments during the first operations. Because of the dry weather, the work has been started about two weeks earlier than was expected .

OTAGO HARVEST BEGINS GOOD RESULTS EXPECTED [BY TFr.EORAPH—OWN" CORRESPONDENT] DUNEDIN, Friday The first crop of linen flax to be harvested in the Otago and Southland district was pulled to-dav at Clvdevale, on the farm of Mr. A. Hyslop. The recent spoil of warm weather has brought the flax crops on rapidly and it is likely that within the next few days there will bo eight pulling machines at work in the Balclutha district, whore about 60 farmers have areas under cultivation. Mr. Hyslop's crop was described bv Mr. J. \Y. Wood cock, of the Department of Agriculture, as a good clean one, and it is anticipated that the harvest will come fully up to expectations. Some fine crops are also to be seen in the Popotunoa district. Good progress is being made with the erection of the factory at Finegaud to house the processing plant.