AREA FOR LINEN FLAX

Southland Times, Issue 24544, 19 September 1941, Page 6

AREA FOR LINEN FLAX

Shortage Of 2218 Acres The land offered for linen flax crops in Southland during the coming season is still 2218 acres short of the quota fixed for the five factories which will operate in the province. The canvass of farmers undertaken by tire Southland provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union and stock and station agents, with officers of the Department of Agriculture, during the last month has resulted in an increase of 817 acres. The time for preparing the land for sowing the crop early next month is now short, but an effort is being made to secure an additional acreage which will reduce the shortage. The best response has been secured in the Woodlands and Gore districts, where the crop was not grown previously. In both centres about 85 per cent, of the objective of 1000 acres was reached. In the other centres a lower percentage was obtained as follows: Winton, 70 per cent; Tapanui, 65 per cent.; Otautau, 56 per cent. The experience last season was that Southland crops were heavier than those grown in northern districts. It will be possible, therefore, for the factories to operate economically, but the best results would be obtained if the quota in each district was filled. In Canterbury and other parts of the South Island more land was offered than was required. The details of the areas offered in each district up to yesterday, compared with those of a month ago and the quota required, are as follows:

Winton Sept. 18 Aug. 20 Quota 1430 1020 2000 Otautau 847 700 1500 Woodlands 851 720 1000 Gore 844 800 1000 Tapanui 1310 1225 2000 TOTALS 5282 4465 7500