The Star. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1869.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 427, 27 September 1869, Page 2

The Star. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1869.

♦- :— . It is exceedingly gratifying to observe the increased attention 'paid, in. all purrs of the colony, to the preparation ..of New Zealand flax as an article of export. There cnn, we think, be no doubt whatever as to the Value of the fibre, when properly prepared. And it seeraa to be generally admitted that ihe industry will yield a handsome profit to those who enter upon it systematically. The General Assembly recognised the importance of the iutluatry by agreeing to the appointment of a Commission. It will be the duty of the Commission, the members of which seem to have been judiciously selected, to iuquiro into and report upon the growth and modes of preparation of tire fibre. The work of the Commission, might be greatly aided, if tho owuers of mills now at work would take the trouble to make such experiments as the knowledge they have already acquired suggests. We have uo doubt the Commissioners will be exceedingly gfad to receive the results of practical observations, however limited and humble, aud we would urge upon those engaged in preparing flax the desirability of their placing themselves in communication with some member of j the Commission. Dr Hector, iv his report on tho Exhibition of 1565, gives fche result of a series of careful experitnenfcß made by himself as to the best method of preparing the fibre o\' the New Zealand flax. He appears to have come to the conclusion that if the glaze or varnish upon the outer part of the leaf were so broken

up by mechanical means as to allow water to get at the vegetable matter what is called the modified retting process would be the least expensive and most effectual. Dr Hector sums up the results of his experiments in the following words : — " In the first place, there is " the absolute necessity that the leaves "of the plant should be thoroughly " bruised ; secondly, the bruised flax " must be placed in vats of water till it " rots ; it may be found more conve " nient to accelerate the commeuce- " ment of decomposition by the use of " artificial heat. The decomposed leaf "should then be washed by being " placed in a running stream, after " which the flax is ready for scutching "in the ordinary manner." The plan here recommended might be tried at small expense and with little trouble. A Dr Williams, of Nelson, recently read a paper on New Zealand flax before the local Scientific Association. "With regard to the soils most suitable for producing streugth and fineness of fibre, he mentions the following: — 1. That found on hill sides composed of etoses (which to some extent retain moisture), and the debris of decayed trees and other vegetable matter. 2. Well drained land that has been swampy. 3. Scoriaceous soils, resulting from volcanic action and long exposure to the atmosphere, which possess in a high degree the property of absorbing moisture. In sandy soils, and when the flax is grown in undrained swamps, the fibre is said to be deficieut in strength, whereas the hill flax yields a fibre four or five times more valuable than that found on more level ground ; but whether from the particular species of plant, or the accident of its situation on more elevated ground where the soil better suits it, does not seem certain. This aud many other details will be better understood as cultivation becomes more general. Dr Williams recommends the following method for the cultivation of flax from seed: — A suitable spot of ground is to be chosen, the soil deeply moved, and made as fine as possible The seeds of the best kinds procurable are then to be sown, and sand, or very fine earth, sifted over them to the thickness of a penny-piece. When of sufficient size, the young plants arc to be carefully taken up with Ihe soil about their roots, and removed to where it ia intended they shall permanently remain, the ground having been previously prepared for them. Here they are to be planted, (either siugly, or two or three together, a space of a few inches intervening) nine feet apart,' iv rows, from four to nine feet being left between the rows, and care taken that, at certain intervals, a space sufll- | ciently wide for the passage of a cart between the rows be left for the convenience of collecting the leaves for use, manuring, &c. The same ordrr is to be observed as in planting fruit trees, namely — that the plants iv each row shall be opposite the centre of the spaces in the other rows situated to the right and left of them. Flax bears the third year after planting in this way. Another and a simpler method, he says, is to dig up the fully grown flax bushes and cut the underground stem into several pieces, taking care that each piece has one or more young shoots upon it, and that no unnecessary damage is done to the roots growing from the under side. These pieces may then be planted in the same way as the young flax raised from the seed. Dr Williams, after careful microscopic examination of the flax leaves, appears to have arrived at much the same conclusiou as Mr Nottidge. We hope that all who have made, are making, or intend to make experiments on the New Zealand flax, will communicate the results to the Commissioners.