[Crown Copyriykt lieserved, 



ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW. 



BULLETIN 



OF 



MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION 



j 



No. 4] 



[1919 



VII.— NEW ZEALAND FLAX. 



(Phormium tenax). 

 (With Plates). 

 Introductory. 



The possibility of growing New Zealand Flax. (Phormium 

 tenax, L.f .) as a commercial undertaking in the British Isles has 

 for some years been a matter of interest and experiment with 

 certain landed proprietors in Scotland and Ireland. The matter 

 has also been of considerable interest to Kew since its successful 

 introduction to the Royal Gardens through the enterprise of 

 Sir Joseph Banks in 1789. 



An account of the early distribution of the plant from Kew 

 is given in the Botanical Magazine, vol. 59, 1832, plate 3199, 

 and by that time it had proved its suitability for cultivation 

 both in Inverness-shire and at Salcombe in Devonshire, and Sir 

 William Hooker pointed out that " the South of Ireland would 

 in all probability be found to be well suited to its growth and 



increase." 



Sir Joseph Banks, too, in Cook's first voyage, quoted in the 

 Botanical Magazine, says of New Zealand flax that it " would 

 certainly be a great acquisition to England, where it fcould 

 probably thrive with very little trouble, as it seems to be hardy, 

 and to affect no particular soil; being found equally in hill 

 and valley, in the driest mould and the deepest bogs. The 

 bog, however, it seems rather to prefer, as near such places we 

 found it to be larger than elsewhere." 



Since these early efforts to spread a knowledge of New 

 Zealand Flax and its value as a commercial possibility, several 

 more recent attempts have been made to assist in the develop- 

 ment of an industry by advice and with the supply of plants 

 for cultivation. 



That Phormium tenax is amenable to cultivation in the open 

 in the British Isles has long been known, but whether it can 

 be regarded as proved that its cultivation is likely to be a com- 

 mercial success is still held to be doubtful. One reason which 

 accounts for the doubt as to the suitability of Phormium for 



(397.) Wt. 158—829. 1,125. 6/19. J. T. & S., Ltd. G. 14. Sch. 12. 



