ON THE LAND

Taranaki Daily News, 13 November 1929, Page 19

ON THE LAND

THE ROMANCE OF PHORIUM. GREAT POTENTIAL ASSET. SCIENCE TO ITS AID. Among the many plants indigenous to the. Dominion perhaps the most interesting is the New Zealand hemp—phormium tenax. It is interesting to the botanist because of its widespread habitat, growing as it does in swamp, on mountain top, on Jim estone country and in fertile alluvial soil, in wet and dry, warm and cold climatic conditions, and more interesting to the community as the source of a valuable fibre in demand in the world’s hard fibre markets, e

WAKEFIELD’S OPTIMISM. Wakefield was one of the first settlers to recognise tiio possibilities of its commercial exploitation, and frequent references are made in his books to the widespread use of the fibre amongst the Maoris. Indeed ho even attempted to organise its production on a commercial scale, and although only small quantities were exported to England it was in great demand even in those early days. Before his time the Maoris had discovered that the fibre could be used for a multiplicity of purposes, clothing, canvas, nets, twine, rope, baskets, etc., if treated in a suitable way.

TYPES OF PLANT. It is probable that phormium has a long pedigree. Different types of plant have .evolved under different soil and climatic conditions' with resulting wide differences in characters. Some of the present strains —and there are hundreds of them —have amazingly different physical properties, and the yield and quality of fibre in®the leaf is, as one would expect, very valuable. It is obvious that the producer of phormium would, if he, knew how, select the strain which would give him the highest yield of best quality fibre in the shortest time. ■' This is the question the phormium producer has always been asking himself, and lie has-by experience learned that certain strains as evidenced by certain definite qualities which can be seen will give him good results. But this knowledge has not taken him very far because of the inherent intricacy and difficulty of the task.

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. Forco of circumstances has driven the industry to that most obvious but most tardily Adopted weapon, research. Producers cannot be expected to equip themselves for the specialised tasks connected with research even if they had the knowledge, which is unlikely. And so the organisation of the Phormium Research Association by tho Scientific and Industrial Research Department is an event of vital importance to the future of the industry. The present scheme as evolved, limited and hampered os it is by lack of funds, aims first and foremost at the difficult task of selection a number of tho most promising strains. This means propagation by seed and root, and examination of the resulting plant for fibre quality and yield—a necessarily long taa-k, because even the quickest growing plants known at present take three to four years to come to maturity. At the same time quick and accurate methods of determining fibre strong and yield—of the kinds of disease and means of elimination—of methods of bleaching and other important questions are being studied.

ITS CHIEF COMPETITOR., Classed as it is amongst tho hard fibres, phormium has to compete in the world’s markets with sisal, which is produced in immense quantities chiefly in East Africa, Java, Mexico and Jamaica. Last year the total world production of sisal was 227,000 tons, and statistics show that during tho last few years production has shown a continual increase. The yield of dry fibre from sisal averages about 4 per cent, of weight of wet leaf, and the plant takes about the same time as phormium to come to maturity. Where then does the sisal industry have the advantage? It is being run on strictly scientific lines at almost maximum efficiency. Tho quality of fibre is regular, strong, of excellent colour, and regular strength. There is a continuity of supply of a big volume of standardised fibre which has facilitated efficient marketing and consequent regular demand.

PRESENT DIFFICULTIES. It is impossible to produce large quantities of standardised phormium, becaxjse tho main areas of growth are’ native plants. Then there is a multiplicity of strains of unknown quality and yield. The methods of stripping, bleaching, etc., of this mixed fibre are primitive, and there has been no cultivation or manuring. When it is realised that good strains of phormium will give a yield of fibre up to 20 per cent., and that even now J2J to 15 per cent, is frequently obtained, then the basis of the future prosperity of the industry can bo readily •understood.

In addition the physical properties of good quality phdrmium are at least as' good as average sisal, and in some important respects these properties ensure a special market which is capable of great expansion. As soon as research reveals the best strains to cultivate every effort must be made to produce standardised fibre of high tensile strength, good colour, and even length in ever increasing quantities. This can only bo done by efficient cultivation. The producer must realise that haphazard growth of native phormium must prove uneconomic.

BEST METHODS OF PROCESSING. Maximum yield of fibre and minimum production of waste in tho form of tow are aimed at, but with the present type of stripper it is difficult sufficiently to reduce waste. Efforts are being made in different countries by several engineering firms to evolve a now typo of stripper, as it is in this direction that there appears to bo the greatest scope for reducing cost of production. It is hoped that the Government will again offer a bonus for improved mechanical means to act as a stimulus. Chemical bleaching and mechanical drying also offer scope for big reductions in production cost. ° UTILISATION. The chief uses of phorium at present . .. . iicioG ..; .- ■

are for binder twine, ropes and cordage, and present indications are that these will continue to be the chief outlets. There are possibilities, of new outlets for marine cordage, canvas and paper. Although much has been said about the manufacture of artificial silk from the fibre, there is little possibility in this direction owing to competition from the cheaper and purer wood pulp and to the lack of the physical properties possessed by cotton.

IMPROVING MARKETING. There has been much diverse criticism of the present inefficient methods of marketing. There is evidence that at last the producer is beginning to realise the value of co-operative marketing, the success of which has been so conspicuous in other directions. The present hand to mouth methods must bo eliminated if the consumers in the chief markets are to be persuaded to give to phormium the goodwill afforded to sisal and manila. Another matter of considerable importance is that of identity.

PHORMIUM NOT FLAX. Phormium is not a. member of the limim family, the botanical name given to true flax from which linen is manufactured. True flax is a very important commodity in the. world’s markets, being produced in. hundreds of thousands of tons, ill the consuming /countries of. Europe, America ami Asia, the name ‘flax” is accorded only to linum. It is obvious that mistakes can and do occur when the New Zealand fibre is so called, and it is essential to give it that separate identity which it certainly deserves. Finally the name “phormium” would be sufficient guarantee of identity, and it ' is strongly recommended that this title be officially adopted and used by all.

THE FUTURE. Although the present state of the industry may not seem to hold put much encouragement, tho fact that science .is at last being applied to production is pf the utmost importance. There is every indication, nay a certainty, that when tho problems under active investigation are. solved . phormium in its natural habitat, with all the climatic and other advantages, will become a source of wealth to producers and an industry of first importance to the Dominion. '

CANADIAN AYRSHIRES. NOTED PRIZE-WINNER IMPORTED. Through the inability of New Zealand breeders to import from the Home-land on account of tho ravages of foot and mouth disease, it was found necessary to turn to other countries to replenish the purebred blood of the Dominion’s herds and flocks. Investigations have shown that Canada owns some of the finest Ayrshire cattle in the world, and New’ Zealand breeders have turned their attention to this country, which, over a very long period of years, imported from Scotland outstanding animals of all the best breeding strains produced in the original home of Ayrshire cattle. Tlie Ayrshire Breeders’ Asociation of New .Zealand has itself decided to send two of its prominent judges to Canada to select cattle for its breeders. In the meantime, however, a noted prize-winning bull has (already been imported from Canada, and tho merit of this animal is such that breeders are likely to view further introductions of Canadian blood into the Dominion with the greatest of interest. The bull imported, Thorncroft Star Boy, was purchased in Canada by Messrs. Wright Stephenson and Co. Ltd. on account of Mr. J. G. Donald, of Alloa, Featherston. Mr. Donald recently took over from his father, Mr. Q. Donald, the latter’s herd of 60 pure-bred Ayrshire cattle,, and, in conjunction‘with his father, proposes to eventually run on their farms 400 purebred Ayrshire milking cows. Purebreds will gradually replace the grade Ayrshire cattle forming the present herds and which have already -given remarkable evidences of high production.

Thorncroft Star Boy has just completed his term of two months’ quarantine on Somes Island, and he was landed in his new home in great order. K&n Ayrshire judges, who have already seen him, unhesitatingly state that it is one of the finest types of Ayrshire bulls that has yet been seen imdrie Dominion, and, as he is supported by an illustrious pedigree, he should be a most valuable acquisition to the Dominion. Thorncroft Star Boy -was first prize junior calf and reserve junior champion at the Ottawa Winter Fair, and the following years was first prize yearling and reserve junior champion at Ormstown, two of the greatest dairy cattle exhibitions in Canada. He also won other leading honours. In addition to being a great show type, he indicates through his tremendous bodily development tho capacity for imparting great production to his progeny. His arm, Thorncroft Beulah, won the Silver Cup presented by the Canadian Ayrshire Association for the highest production in Canada, of any twoyear old-Ayrshire for the year in which she was tested. In' the ten months’ test as a junior two-year-old, she produced 4631 b butter-fat. This record was made under ordinary conditions. His sire, Penshurst Mischief Star, was first prize two-year-old at the American National Dairy Show, and, as an aged bull was grand champion at the Ormstown show in Canada.