SOME USEFUL FIBRE PLANTS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1196, 1 February 1895, Page 7

SOME USEFUL FIBRE PLANTS.

Farmers who have any' intention of giving flax and other fibre plants a trial should at once procure the new pamphlet just issued by the Agricultural Department, which is entitled “ Fibres from Plants Indigenous and Introduced Eligible for Industrial Culture and Experiment in Victoria,” by Mr YV. R. Guilfoyle, director of the Melbourne Botanical Gardens. Although prosy and flowery at limes, the publication contains a deal of up-to date information about fibre plants and their economic value. I do not wish to unduly elate any of my up-country agricultural readers as to the possibilities of things grown under Mr Guilfoyle’s care, for with plenty of help and a good waterhose at command, the curator can produce plants which no farmer would attempt to grow. But Mr Guilfoyle’s experience is very valuable all the same, and his object is mainly to point out to farmers the most useful fibre plants to cultivate. Illustrations are given of all the useful fibre plants which are suitable for Victoria, and detailed instructions are also given how bo grow them ana prepare them for market in the common way at a profit. Here is an example with reference to flax:—“lt is very necessary to be careful as to quality of the seed, for on that depends, in a great measure, the success or non-success of the crop. If the seed contain weed seeds, it should be carefully passed through sieves. Dutch seed is said to be best for heavy soils, but Riga or Russian seed is the kind generally used in Ireland, Belgium, France and America. Change ; of seed is no doubt desirable occasionally, the same as with wheat and other cereals, to prevent deterioration ; and the Belgians, who are perhaps the most successful and careful cultivatoi-s of flax in the world, use the precaution of obtaining fresh seed from Riga every second year, for the purpose of sowing and producing home-grown seed for the following season. Aa regards the quantity of seed necessary per acre, from 2% to 3 bushels will be required if the crop be intended for fibre, in which case it must be sown thickly ; if for linseed, 2 bushels, or even less, will be sufficient. In about ten or twelve

weeks after spring sowing (the exact time depends upon the nature of the soil and climate) the crop will be ready for pulling or mowing. Pulling is the system adopted by careful cultivators if the crop be intended for fine fibre. To pull too early or too late is to alter the texture of the fibre, perhaps to spoil it. If too soon, the fibre is weak or very fine ; if too late, it is of coarse quality. When very fine fibre is required, the crop is pulled while in flower, or when the ‘bolls’ or seedpods are just forming. If fibre of a stronger character be desirable, the crop is said to be at its best when the stalk of tho plant., for about half its height from the ground, has turned yellow and the upper capsules have begun to turn brown: In pulling, a sudden jerk and slight shake is necessary, so as not to drag up the soil. Flax i 3 seldom of uniform height in the field, therefore the tallest plants should be grasped at the first handful and the shorter ones at the second handful. In this way the short and' the long stems can be kept separated and tied up in distinct bundles.” The different processes of preparing the crop for market are given with the same minute detail, as well as a lot of other valuable information about many fibre plants that might be profitable to grow in Victoria. —The Australasian