Graft copolymerization of vinyl monomers onto flax and allied fibers (include jute
ramie and apocynum fibres) has received considerable attention in recent years. Various initiation systems have been used in the research field. The most important ones are: 1. Radiation initiation. 2. Photoinitiation. 3. Ce(IV ) ion initiation. 4.Permanagamte initiation. 5. V(V) ion initiation. 6. Fenton s reagent (Fe
2+
-H
2
O
2
) initiation. 7. Peroxydisulfate redox system initiation. All graft initiation methods as well as the characterization of structure and properties of grafted fibres have been reviewed in the paper.