i88 CORDAGE FIBRES 



from 5 to 6 feet or more in length, whilst those of others 

 are much shorter. 



The smaller varieties are grown on high and dry 

 lands ; they yield a finer fibre and are much more 

 easily stripped than the larger plants grown on 

 marshy land. 



Phormium tenax is indigenous to New Zealand, and 

 is also found in Norfolk Island and other parts of 

 Australia. It has been distributed to the Azores, 

 St. Helena, Algeria, the south of France, Natal, South 

 India, and California. The plant has also been intro- 

 duced into the south of Ireland, and flourishes on the 

 south-west coast of Scotland. It is planted in the 

 Scilly Isles in order to resist encroachments of the sea, 

 and has been cultivated in the Orkney Islands. 



In the south of New Zealand the plant is not found 

 far from the sea nor at a great elevation ; in the North 

 Island it grows best near the coast, but is also found 

 abundantly in the interior up to a height of 2,000 feet. 



CULTIVATION 



In order to obtain Phormium tenax fibre of good 

 quality, the plant must be cultivated on suitable soil, 

 although almost any soil is capable of supporting its 

 growth. The plant thrives best on a rich, moist, 

 well-drained soil, and is found in its greatest luxuri- 

 ance in the vicinity of swamps and rivers upon moist, 

 alluvial soil. It also grows well on a rich, dry, clay 

 soil with a yellow clay sub-soil, especially if sheltered 

 from the wind and at the same time provided with 

 plenty of light and air. The plant does not give good 

 results on stagnant marshes, but grows well after such 

 swamps have been drained. Drainage is effected by 

 means of open trenches of a depth sufficient to keep 

 the water about 12 inches below the surface. In the 

 dry summer months these drains may be temporarily 

 stopped, if desired, in order to irrigate the soil. Allu- 

 vial soil is ploughed in the winter or spring, and left 

 to dry until the autumn, when it is again ploughed. 

 Planting is then carried out, usually in March or April, 

 when the autumn rains commence. Early planting 



