Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-01-23
FARM AND GARDEN.
The RamIe PIant-Ifs Cultivation and
Use.

The RamIe PIant-Iis Cultivation and
Use.
A good deal Of attention is attracted to
the ramie plant, and information is
sought in regard to its cultivation. The
following article will supply this want
The ramie belongs TO the family Of the
nettles. Whoever saw a luxuriant nettle
standing in a fence corner awaiting the UNI
wary 10 make its hands smart, has a nearly
trne picture of the ramie in its appearance.
The only striking difference is, the ramie
las the leaves n little shorter, bnt broader
than the nettle. The ramie, standing
single. is inclined TO make many sides
shoots or latlerals, which is especially the
case by the first planting. As soon as II
has been once or twice cut down, close to
or rather about one inch under the ground,
and the roots have become stronger,
large number of Tatoons will sprout from
the roots and bulbouns, and few or no
side shoots will show themselves. The
shoots from the roots or ratoons will stand
close and push each other up. These close
standing shoots contain the best fibre they
are hollow almost as much so az a cane.
As soon as the fibre has the proper strength,
the stem begins 10 color little darker near
the ground. The size whichthe plants reach
in a certain time, varies according 10 rich
ness aud kind of soil, as well as weather
and mode of cultivation. As a general rule
it may he said as soon M the stems have
reached little more than four feet, the
fibre will be of good quality, but does not
get hurt if left uncut until il reaches eight
TO ten feet in length.
CULTURE OF RAMIE--A GARDEN CULTURE.
The garden culture consists in raising,
in a fast " ay, Young plants 10 be trans
planted in the field. Although they can
be multiplied very fast, it will take con-
adorable time to have sufficient plants 10
plant large fields. The multiplying of
plants is done by roots, layers, or cuttings
from the stems, which latter ought TO be
cut in pieces from four TO six inches in
length. The best way 10 start is, TO buy
young rooted plants in growing condition,
when such can be had. The writer Of this
has large number Of such plants for sale,
and is able TO send such guaranteed TO any
part of the South, where express agencies
are established The best way TO plant in
the garden, or nursery, is in narrow beds, 80
IA the young plants can be taken away,
and the old ones not being hurt by step
ping too much on them. A good way is
the following: The soil has TO be worked
about twelve 10 fourteen inches deep, pull
verified and cleaned Of all weedy roots
the plants are planted in about three TO
four inches deep burrows, 80 that when
ihey are afterwards hilled, the ground be~
comes very near level. A soon as the
plant is six TO eight inches high, the top
ought TO be nipped Off In this way side-
Rhoots will start from almost every leaf.
When they have reached four TO five
inches in length, then the plant ought to
be covered with earth, and nothing but the
tops of the side-shoots left TO be seen. All
these side-shoots will soon make roots,
when they can be cut off from the mother
plant and transplanted, either in the field
or in the nursery. The mother-plant has
now strong roots, and will very soon have
ratoons, which have TO be treated like the
side-shoOrs mentioned above, and when
strong enough and rooted, can be trans
planted, etc. The reader will observe in
this way the plant can be multiplied fast
and sure. IL is needed 10 keep the beds
free of weeds, and the ground ought TO be
loose around the plants A rich, rather
sandy soil is, ] believe, the hest for the
nursery.