NEW LIFE IN THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XL, Issue 3056, 10 July 1884, Page 3

NEW LIFE IN THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

TO THB 3DITOB 07 THE TntAEU HBEALD. Sib, — On Boanning your columns of Friday last for political or other items of special attraction, do one taking an interest m our young and promising industry (fl *x-growln g and manufacture'), could fail to hare his attention riveted till he had ca'efully peruaed the instructive letter on that subject from the Rev. T. Jasper Smyth, Pleasant Point. It is very encouraging for one who has labored for many years (m vain) io convince farmers that flax was worthy of their attention as a crop, as well as the now existing Tcmuka Company to find such an able ohampion and advocate to the froDt as our rov. friend. The careful manner m which he treats all details, from the selection of land teed, tic, Ac, to tho dressing of fibre, at once chows that long experience and residence amongst the growers and manufiioturera of flax, bavi fitted him for a valuable counsellor to all intending growers. Notwithstanding this, I am sure he will pardon me for differing from him m some items, which I have lenrnt by a long succession of experiments m this country. Having grown flax for the past 20 years, hoping tnaf, it would subsequently be recoqnisid as one of the staple products »f this country, I have always been glad to get information by reading or conversation. My latter informants were generally North Irishmen, who would give mo every detail of growing an extremely fine plant, suitable for producing the finest lint. This to be pulled before the seed was ripe. In Ireland they import all eeed, so I found they were little help as advisers to one who then wanted to produce the beet sample of seed, as well as the largest return per acre, *traw being valueless. They would tell me that nothing less than 12 to 14 pecks per acre was sown m Ireland, while I was sowing 2 pecks and threahing 30 bushels of seed per acre. You will note Mr Smyth quoted 16 to 20 pecks per acre as necessary for seed. As I think it must be a mistake or misprint, I thought it advisable to warn farmers against the possibility of their sowing co much. When sowing 2 pecks my straw was as coarse a* reeds, with branohes spreading out all round, bearing a heavy crop of seed balls. I gradually (for experiment) increased my eeed to 4, 6 and 8 pecks per acre, with satisfactory results, and I have come to the conclusion that the latter, if of good quality is the most suitable quantity per aore to be used m this country, whero a fair return of seed (say 20 bushels per acre) and a fibre of superior quality can be obtained, varying m value from £60 to £70 per ton. It used to bo the opinion of Irish growers that it was impossible to obtain seed and fibre from the same crop. This has been a great hindranoe to the development of this new industry here, but I hope such ideas havo for ever exploded. As I have stated on previous occasions it is most important for growers to (elect land free from weeds whioh will injure their crops. Generally epeaking (owing to the want of system m cropping), m this country lea land will generally prove the most suitable. It i» wise to plough (with a skim before tho coalter) a deop furrow, neatly packed, as early m the Winter as possible, to enable the frosts and rains to pulverize tho aurfaoo thoroughly. As soon as winter breaks up, and August's aun and breezes prepare a dry and friable surface, do time should be lost m harrowing to a fine state, followed by a Cambridge rollor to consolidate furrows and leave a level seed bed. Linseed should be deposited m the surface at not more than half au inoh deep. When this is done, under favorable circumstances the orop will be above ground m 40 hours. This exact depth can only be aobieved by tho best English drills, which are also fitted with special double points or shoes, to übo instead of tho ordinary corn shoes, and thus deposit the linseed m rows 3in to B§in apart. I introduced this last patent from England specially for linseed or other fine seeds. Linseed crops pat m before the end of August will be ready to harvest beforo Christmas, when labor will bo plentiful and dnys long und warm. When drilled, the Cambridge roller should immediately follow to cover the seed and ensuro a level surfaoe. It is very common to lay down with flax, as it is thn best nurse to clover and grass seeds. When this is tho case, tho seed must be town after tho drill, and prior to last rolling. August sown flax will almost infallibly get a quiok start prior to our too oommo'i Spring drought Bets m. When once fairly started flax will go ahead m spite of drought. It being of importance (where seed and fibro are both looked for m the same crop) that the same should bo harvested at the proper time. It may be useful as a general guide, to state as noon as the stem and seed balls become of a creamy straw color, it may bo gathered, when n few days m stook will prepare the balls for rippling. I expect we (ball havo competition among our machinists for lliu best rippling and seed dressing machine Our Company are shipping Kuropoan seed to supply intending growers, o» far as it will go. Independent of this, there aro somo good samples m this neighborhood. lho retting and drying operation would doubtless be an insurmountable ditSoulty if, as m Ireland, it had to be done by tho farmer j but tho Company will be prepared to purchase the straw m a crude state, at psr ton. As farmers show an intorent and grow ft sufficient quantity ia different localities, it will be necessary to have branoli establishments, with retting pits and scutching mill. Sinoe commencing this Utter some day« ago, I bavo had the pleasure to learn that the 1 Rev. Mr Smyth, with another expert m the 1 production of lint, intends visiting out 1 works at an early date, when, as one of the ' Directors, I hope to bavo the pleasure ol ' mooting him. Bo will be ooabled to give al ' who feel an interest m the now industry hii

i candid opinion of our efforts, and take/some ; samplei of fibre produced thiß year under un- ; favorable circumstances, which chow **IJ for i the future of the country. I must apologise for my long letter, i I am, &0., Bdwd. Pilbrow. Temuka, Bth July, 1884.