Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-04-28

We before aHuded tc = new plant
termed ra1te which was imported from
Java by Belgian named RaeZl. The
New Orleans PicGy11le gives an elabO-
rate description Of the plant and its uses,
from which we extract the following.
&" A new plant has been added to the
resources Of our tropical and semi trOpi-
cal regiOn-a new textile, which will
furnish the world with clothing and the
means of knowledge. We have seen
within few days long skeins of a cot
ton-like fibre, eOttOn-uke in whiteness,
softRess and fineness, but much stronger,
which is now produced st the rate OF
five crops per year, in the state Of Vera
Cruz, Mexico, where it has been culti-
waited for five years by Belgian natu-
ralist snd botaaist, who went there to
pursue his favOrite studies and Occupa-
tiOns in a soil and climate which favor
them.
"This plant, called the ramie, is a ma
tive of Java was introduced thence
into the Jardin des Plantes at Paris by
some French sGUGR in 1874; /; was re-
garded then as simply exhibiting the
wonderful advantages Of the tropics,
being too delicate for open air culture in
cold climates. But having been planted
and tried in warmer climates than that
Of France, yet not SO equatorial as that
Of Java, it has been found to do as well
in them.
at is due to NJ. Bentio Raezl, form
erlv chief Of the horticultural institute
Of Belgium, now Of SsntOcomagrum,
San Andres Tustla. state Of Vera Cruz,
Mexico, that we can now pronounce it a
naturalized plant Of this continent, and
TO his present visit to this city will
speedily owe its intrOd uction into the
feld-eulture Of the gulf states, TO which
it will permanently pertain.
"The rsmie (its Jsvanese name) Is a
plant ike hemp, contains in its stalk the
fibre for which it IS raised, and which Is
grown like the sugar cane, from being
planted in lengths or from its stubble +;
with this advantage over the stubble Of
/ the cane, that each succeeding year it
grows better, and that in Cuba and
{ lower Mexico it will furnish five, and
/ here at least three cuttings 10 the year
"By a new process, and some simple
machinery invented by NJ. Raezi, the
4 lint can be prepared from the stalks,
/ taken fresh from the ground, in twenty
/ four hours. We all know that months
! Of labor and entire discOlOring OF the
! fibre fellows the treatment by the Ordi-
I nary process Of fax and hemp, while
the rsmie comes out white, clean, pure
and anhurt.
Eight hundred pounds Of lint to the
acre Is TO be expected from each cutting
of full growth in fair land. The culture
is similar to that of caHe; but as the
plant, when once set, Is hard to eradicate,
grows vigorously and defies the inf1u-
snee OF grass or rival plants, cultivation
is only needed 70 promote its growth.
u -. - Il u
to do this causes no special damage, so
that it may wait days or weeks the will
Of the free republicans Of Mexico and the
union. The fibre is long, hne and
strong; the plant easy to raise, and
hsrdy Ia a southern latitude; and its
preparation for market IS simple and
cheap in cost.
Under these circumstances we may
safely pronounce that the ramie viii, at
an early day, take a high rank among
our staples."