VARIOUS PRODITTS 129 



the Province Pliormio teuax, New Zealand 

 flax, would in all probability grow well. The 

 name flax is a misnomer given to it by the 

 early colonists of New Zealand. It grows 

 through a great range of latitude, but some of 

 the best varieties come from the Bay of Islands 

 at the northern extremity of the north island of 

 New Zealand, between 36° and 37° south latitude. 

 St. Helena, where it has been established, is 16° 

 south. The Lourenzo Marques district, lying 

 across latitude 26° south, comes in between. 

 Phormium thrives in rich soils on the banks of 

 running streams ; most of the flax exported from 

 New Zealand is grown on swamps. But the 

 swamps should be drained. In the nursery the 

 seed is drilled in like carrot-seed, and the plants 

 put out in rows 1 foot or 18 inches apart ; 

 roadways being left at convenient intervals to 

 allow of the passage of carts or trolly lines. 

 Three to four years are required for the produc- 

 tion of leaves fit for milling, after which cut- 

 tings may be made annually. The three centre 

 leaves should always be left. Once established 

 Phormium thrives without further care, taking 

 possession of the land and keeping down weeds. 

 Some experiments conducted by the Government 

 of New Zealand in 1908 showed that an average 

 of 8J tons of green leaf were required to make 



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