Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-04-04

should not grow the vacancies should be
filed as soon as possible, 10 get an even
growing field. As soon as the plants have
reached seven or eight inches they ought to
be topped in the nursery, TO force the plants
10 form sideshoots. When the latter are
grown to about five or six inches in length
the plant has kind of bushy appearance:
then the plant is held nearly TO the top. and
at the same time all weeds DESTROYED. The
plant is left TO grow now until it has reached
the height Of about three feet, when il ia cut
down even with the ground, or better, one
inch below. The fibre of this first growth
can be used, but it is not perfect yet, because
the roots and bulbs are not yet large enough,
and there are as yet too many side shoots.
few days after this cutting,a great many
ratoons will make their appearance on the
surface. The whole work now consists in
keeping out all weeds. This second growth
will be under similar circumstances, a
great deal more rapid than the first was,
and can be cut when about four feet high,
each growth will have less undershoots
and soon they will disappear altogether.
The planting in the fields ought to be done
in spring, but can be continued until late
in August and beginning Of September
Those which are planted late 10 be COW
cred in winter time with straw or leaves.
because these have yet too young and ten
der roots 10 resist severe frosts and freez-
ings. Those planted early in spring and
| fore part Of the summer do not need any
protection, as they will make roots eighteen
to twenty-loGr inches deep. All refuse
matter falling of in cleaning the fibre
ought TO be fed, or dried, and put in the
barn for winter use. All the manure
coming from the plant ought to be care
| fully gathered and brought back TO the
field. In this way such field will give a
rich return for many years, without need
Of being replanted. The experience in re-
gard to what kind of soil will be the best,
and Whatever soil will produce this plant,
IL until now limited, but so much is GER
tain, that a sandy, rich loan suits the plant
very well, or any soil which has a water
retaining sub-soil.
USE OF THE RAMIE.
The ramie is useful in two ways. 1t con-
tains, first, silk like fibre Of uncommon
strength and ineness, and second, furnishes
in the refuse matter an excellent food for
stock, which can in quality be compared
iavorably with clover, as stated by the
weli-known botanist, i. Roezl, who intro
troduced this plant last spring in this
country. The fibre not only will replace
the cotton, but is bound to be strong rival
to fax. la strength this fibre is nearest to
the silk, and as there is a little more
experience and intelligence brought in
requisition by the cultivation and manu-
featuring thereof, it will be merely ques-
ton of time, and it will be the best substi-
tute for silk. Another most important
point in introducing the ramie here, is ita
easy and almost certain cultivation; be-
cause the first year its cultivation does not
give more work than sweet potatoes, and
afterwards the main labor and almost all
the labor consists in harvesting. The
quantity of fibre will be more than cotton,
Notwithstanding it being worth more than
twice the price of the best cotton.
In case a field should be turned over
after series of years for some other pur-
pose, then the roots and bulbs will make
excellent food FOR hogs.
The plant until now has no destructive
enemies. The so-called nettle.worm makes,
in some seasons, its appearance, but does
never hurt the fibre, and is satisfied with
the lower leaves of the plant, and is, in
this way, harmless.
G. HUNzIKER.
Summit, Miss, Dec. "A, 1867.