

o 



Q 16 



fibre values, and a summary of that report is given here as a 

 continuation of the article on New Zealand Flax which appeared 

 in K.B., No. 4, 1919. 



The varieties tested were as follows: — 



Awanga. — An erect variety producing a strong heavy leaf with 

 a thick, pulpy, white butt. The fibre is strong, coarse, and 

 bright, easily stripped, washed and bleached. The colour of the 

 finished fibre shows a marked difference to that of other varieties, 

 except Huhiroa. The variety produces a heavy crop of leaves 

 per acre, but the fibre yield per ton of green leaves is low. 

 Ngutunui. — A variety highly prized by the natives and used 

 by them for making the finer kinds of mats (shawls), the fibre 

 being very strong and elastic. It is a drooping variety with a 

 shorter leaf than some of the others. The leaf is thin with 

 a red butt and is rather difficult to wash and bleach on account 



of the colour. The fibre is thin but strong and tough, and 



closely resembles the better qualities of Manila hemp. In point 

 of strength it is by far the best of any tested. Putaiore. — 

 This is an erect variety growing 8-10 ft. high, with an even leaf 

 throughout, the butt or base being little thicker than the top. 

 it gives a good return of fibre per ton of green leaf, multiplies 

 quickly and throws up numerous shoots. Wharariki. — Of droop- 

 ing habit, with a thin paper-like leaf, seldom more than 5 ft. 

 long. The yield per acre of green leaf is very small. It pro- 

 duces a very fine, silky fibre, but is too easily bruised and 

 broken in stripping. The fibre was graded the lowest on the 

 list, owing to its bruised condition and lack of strength. The 

 variety is generally known to the miller as " hill - or 



mountain " hemp. "With an improved method of stripping 

 which would not break or injure the fibre it is considered that 

 the fine silky nature of the fibre of this variety would make it 

 equal, if not superior to other varieties tested for fine and high- 

 class work. N guturua or N 'gutuwahine. — Grows with and closely 

 resembles Ngutunui. The chief difference is seen on cutting the 

 leaf, the butt of N guturua being white and that of TV gutuvui 

 very red. The fibre of the former, although strong and fairly 

 easily worked, does not compare with that of TV gutunui as far 

 as strength is concerned. The fibre, being fine, is used by the 

 natives for the finer kinds of shawls. Katiraukawa. — This is a 

 slightly drooping variety, often 12 ft. high, resembling Awanga, 

 except that the latter is an erect variety and is stronger and 

 heavier at the butt, having more vegetation. The fibre resembles 

 that of Awanga, but is finer and softer. The natives use it for 

 the softer parts of the best mats, and in all kinds of work where 

 fibre is used. Huhiroa. — Has strong", erect, dark green leaves, 

 very pale on the under surface. It resembles ihe Putaiore in 

 appearance, the leaf being narrow and of fairly even thicknes- 

 throughout, but yielding less fibre. The fibre is higUy prized by 

 the natives and when stripped by their method it is very strong 

 and bright, and is used in all their finer kinds of work. Que 

 (semi-bronze). — This has a very broad, thick leaf, not so pointed 

 as the other varieties cultivated. The butt is very heavy and 

 coarse, the fibre fine and silky, of medium colour, but defective 



