GROWING LINEN FLAX

Southland Times, Issue 24153, 15 June 1940, Page 4

GROWING LINEN FLAX

PROCESSING PLANTS FOR SOUTHLAND

WINTON AND OTAUTAU SELECTED >

IDEAL CONDITIONS IN PROVINCE More details of the plan to grow linen flax in the South Island as part of New Zealand’s war effort will be given next week when Mr R. B. Tennent, Director of the Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture, addresses meetings in Southland. It was announced yesterday that Winton and Otautau were two of 11 centres in the South Island where it was proposed to establish processing factories.

Mr Tennent will outline the events leading up to the Government undertaking to grow 15,000 acres of linen flax for the Imperial authorities. It is emphasized that the growing of fibre, which is a vital commodity for war purposes, should be viewed not only as a commercial proposition, but also as a patriotic gesture. The centres where it is tentatively proposed to establish processing plants in Otago and Southland are Clydevale, Tapanui, Otautau and Winton. Farmers within a 15-mile radius are being asked to grow crops under contract during the coming season, and it is imperative that offers to co-operate should be received by the Department of Agriculture as soon as possible. All farmers in the districts mentioned are requested to attend the meetings which have been arranged. Mr Tennent intends addressing farmers from the Clydevale, Popoturoa, Greenfield and Balclutha districts on Monday afternoon at Balclutha. In the evening he will meet Tapanui, Kelso and Heriot farmers at Tapanui. On Tuesday the farmers of the Winton, Drummond and Otautau districts will have, the opportunity of hearing Mr Tennent at Drummond.

IDEAL CONDITIONS IN SOUTHLAND The opinion that Southland soil and climatic conditions would be ideal for the growing of linen flax was expressed yesterday by Mr John Aicken, of Otatara, who, before coming to .New Zealand, had considerable experience in flax-growing in Northern Ireland. “Nearly every farmer in Northern Ireland grows some linen flax,” he said. “It is one of the best paying sidelines and as much as £lOO has been received from an acre of flax. But the farmers there had no labour costs, as they helped each other to gather the crop and treat it.” Mr Aicken explained that the flax was grown from seed, which was broadcast, and took about four months to mature. The stem, which was hardly as thick as a wheat stalk, grew about four feet high and at the top was a cluster of bh : flowers. When the flowers began to drop off the flax was gathered, usually pulled out by the roots, and pitted. The pits were about six feet deep and filled with water. After the flax had been submerged for a few days it began to ferment. In about 12 days it was ready to be taken from the pits and spread out to dry. The object of soaking the flax was to soften it so that it could be stripped more easily.

SEEDS SOWN THICKLY When the flax was dry it was tied in sheaves and sent to the mill, where it was stripped, the fibre being sold to the linen manufacturers. The seeds were often sown as thickly as oats; the thicker the flax was grown the finer the fibre would be. Another man interested in the Government’s scheme said that it was proposed to send the linen fibre to England, but he thought that if wool could be spun in New Zealand it should be possible to spin linen flax and send Britain the finished article. He believed it was a great opportunity for New Zealand to open up a new industry.