THE FLAX INDUSTRY IN AUSTRALIA. 
the Committee decided, as far as growing flax on a commercial scale was concerned, 
to concentrate its efforts for 1918 to Gippsland, where it was known that flax 
could be grown with success, and where one or two flax mills were already in 
existence. 
The seed at the Committee’s disposal was grown in the Drouin district, and 
was of the variety known as “ Blue-flowering Riga,’ the descendant of a small 
consignment imported some years ago. The quantity available was only sufficient 
to sow about 1,400 acres, and for a time the advisability of obtaining a further 
supply from New Zealand was seriously considered. “On examination of the 
samples submitted, however, some doubt arose as to the fibre-producing qualities 
of the imported seed, and it was decided to utilize only the acclimatized Victorian 
seed. The wisdom of this determination was proved subsequently by the results 
of experimental sowings of the New Zealand variety. At Drouin, at the same 
time and under similar conditions, an acre was sown with the New Zealand 
seed, and several acres with Victorian-grown seed; but whereas the latter 
produced one of the hest crops in the district, the crop from the imported seed 
was of so little value as regards either fibre or seed that it was never harvested. 
FLAX MILL, GIPPSLAND, VICTORIA. 
The building was not quite finished at time of photographing. The mill was erected by the 
Commonwealth Flax Committee, and the treatment of the flax is being carried 
out by a co-operative company of growers. ir 
It cannot be too strongly emphasized that, in any attempt to open up a new 
agricultural industry, the matter of seed selection is of vital importance. 
Had this New Zealand seed been sown in any new district, the failure of the 
crop would doubtless have been attributed to the unsuitability of the district 
for flax, with fatal results to the local establishment of the industry. 
The Committee, having disposed of the whole of the available seed, was then 
faced with the greater difficulty of preparing for the treatment of the crop, 
which, with a normal season, was estimated at about 2,000 tons. As the two 
existing mills in the Drouin district were quite inadequate for the treatment 
of this quantity, the Commonwealth Government agreed to the Committee's 
recommendation that a sufficient sum be advanced to the millers at Drouin for 
the purpose of extending their plant, and also approved of financial assistance 
being granted,'in the form of either money or machinery, to any -hody of 
growers who might desire to erect a co-operative mill in their own district. As 
a result, two flax-milling companies have been formed, one at Dalmore, on the 
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