130 MOZAJNIBIQUE 



one ton of fibre and 4 cwt. of tow. This is 

 over 11 per cent, of fibre ; comparing very 

 favourably with sisal. 



I have no data showing the yield per acre ; in 

 its wild state in New Zealand it is stated to 

 yield from 1 ton to 5 or more. 



Care should be exercised in the selection of 

 seed. The following are varieties of Phormium 

 tenax : — 



1. Tehori. — Whitish butt, very prolific, said to be the best 

 fibre flax found in New Zealand. 



2. Ngaru. — Long, thickish leaf ; soft fibre easily dressed ; 

 much prized by the Maori for its fibre. 



3. Awanga. — White butts thick and fleshy ; heavy in green 

 leaf, but poor fibre. 



4. NgaUmui. — Very red butt and stem ; thin drooping leaf ; 

 strongest fibre known ; has a reddish tinge. 



5. Wharekiki. — Short, drooping, thin, papery blade ; fine 

 silky fibre, but strips badly under present process of stripping ; 

 otherwise a very fine fibre. 



6. Eatua Kaioa. — Kesembles Awanga, but longer in leaf ; 

 not so thick or white in butts. 



7. Ngaturoa. — Like Ngatunui but not so drooping ; less colour 

 in butts ; not so strong in fibre, but still one of the best. 



8. Putaiori. — Very thin butts; straight tall leaf; good 

 fibre yielder. 



A variety called Mukama — iimJia being Maori 

 for fibre and ma for white — sold in London for 

 MIO per ton. In strength of staple Phormium 

 ranks next to silk, the relative breaking strains, 



