"W. Teayees. — Utilization of Phormium tenax. 115 



alone it occurs in great abundance, growing with more than average luxuri- 

 ance. There cannot, in fact, be the least doubt of its abundance as a mere 

 natural production ; and we may confidently assert that if the fibre can be 

 economically sejDarated in a condition fit for the English market, the natural 

 supply is not likely to be exhausted for many years to come. I may add, 

 moreover, in reference to supply, that from actual experiment I have 

 ascertained that average flax laud in its natural growth will yield from ten 

 to twelve tons of raw leaf per acre without injury to the plants. I have 

 also ascertained, from actual experiment, that the average quantity of fibre 

 obtainable from full-grown leaves is little less than one-tenth of the weight 

 of the leaves themselves ; or, in other words, that the acre of ordinary flax 

 land in its natural state would yield close upon twenty-four hundredweight 

 of pure fibre per annum without any outlay whatsoever for cultivation. 



This fact alone shows the importance of endeavouring to turn the fibre 

 to account. You have now before you the fibre separated from leaves of 

 various lengths, as shown in the following table : — 



DTumber of 



Number of 



Weight 



Length 



Weight of 



Specimen. 



Leaves. 



■when cut. 



of Leaf. 



Clean Fibre. 







lb. oz. 



feet. 



oz. 



1 



2 



1 6 . 



.. 6 .. 



2 and a fraction 



2 



2 



12 . 



.. 6 .. 



. 11 



3 



2 



10 . 



.. 4 .. 



1 



Tou will observe that the weight of fibre in each case bears a nearly 

 average proportion to that of the leaf from which it was extracted ; and as 

 the leaves grew on various kinds of soil, we may fairly assume that this 

 proportion is not liable to much variation. Assuming, then, that the supply 

 from natural sources would be sufficient to meet demand for some years 

 to come, it still remains to be considered whether the fibre can be economi- 

 cally separated from the leaf, and whether, when separated, it can be turned 

 to profitable account. 



The first point is one which has long excited attention, and the Greneral 

 Grovernment of the colony, some time ago, offered a considerable reward 

 (£2,000, 1 believe) for the production of one hundred tons of fibre in a state 

 to be merchantable in Europe. I am not aware that the reward has ever 

 been claimed, and it is not my place here to inquire whether the conditions 

 attached to it were calculated to produce the results aimed at. I cannot 

 help thinking, however, that these results could have been equally well 

 attained had the quantity required been limited to ten or twenty tons 

 instead of one hundi'ed tons, provided it were at the same time shown that 

 an unlimited supply of the article produced could afterwards have been 

 procured. 



Eeturning to the question whether the fibre can be economically extracted 



