Ngā Rauropi Whakaoranga

The old plantation at Weraroa had regrown after being cut in 1908. The flax was seriously damaged by flax caterpillars. Wharariki showed the most damage. Flaxes nearest shelter belts most damaged. The authors comment on the wide variation among the seedlings: Ngutunui, Pūtaiore, Takahiapu varieties grown from seed from Eltham, gathered from plants highly prized by Māori. Remainder grown from seeds gathered from the old plantation, planted out 1906-1907. The variations are very marked, more in some varieties than others. Pūtaiore - not much variation in seedlings. A variety growing in the high lands of the South Island showed least variation. In the case of Awanga, strong-growing, erect, broad leaf of a dark green colour with a thin light-red edge, there are plants with a narrow leaf, some almost of a bronze colour. Many seedlings of the bronze varieties are a dark green, showing no bronze at all.