The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-02-17
HINTS ON AGRICULTURE.
The Ranale Plant.

The ramie belongs to the nettle family
Whoever saw luxuriant nettle in q fence cor
ner awaiting the unwary to make his hands
smart, has nearly q true picture OF the ramlo In
it's appearance. The ramle, standing SINGLE
is inclined to make many side shoots or late
rails, which is especially the case the first sea-
SOD. AS soon as it has been once or twice cut
down, close to or rather about One inch under
the ground, and the roots have become strong
er, large number OF ratOOns will sprOut from
the roots and bulbouns, and few OF no SIDE
shoots will show themselves. The shoots or
ratoons from the roots will stand close and
push each other up. These close standing
shoots contain the best fibre; they are hollow,
almost as much SO as cane. AS soon as the
fibre has the proper strength the stem begins
to color little darker near tho ground. The
size which the plants reach in certain time
varies according to richness and kind of soil,
as we'll as weather. and mode of cultivation.
AS general rule it may be said as soon as the
stems have reached little more than four
feet, the fibre will be of good quality, but does
not get hurt il left uncut till it reaches eight to
ten feet in length.
It cannot be too much recommended to have
the piece Of land intended for the ramie deep
Iy cultivated; sub-soiled to fourteen inches
would not be too deep, and this Is the most
laborous work in the whole cultivation. The
first year weeds have to be cut out, but this
will give but little trouble. The second year
the plant will have so many ratoons that other
plants will have no room to vegetate. From
this time the cultivation will give very little
trouble, except one p]oughing between the
rows early in the spring and after each cutting,
and manure over the fields during the winter
season. The field ought to be laid off in pieces
of about twenty rows in width, and passage
left for q cart or wagon. The rows ought to be
about four feet apart, and the plants IN the
rows half that distance. When the field is
ready for planting, a furrow is made every four
feet, about three to four inches deep, and in
these turrows the plants are placed, with little
more care than negroes plant sweet potatoes.
The burrows ought to be made 30 that the
rain will not stand too long, yet all heavy
washing ought obe prevented. Rooted plants
as we'll as layers ought to be covered with
earth nearly to the top; roots ought to be COW
cred with earth two or three inches deep. In
case some plants OF roots should not grow, the
vacancies should be filled as soon as possible,
and always the best plants taken for this pur-
pose, so as to get an even growing field. AS
soon as the plants have reached seven to eight
inches in height, they should ba topped (as in
the nursery to force out side shoots. When
these latter are grown to about five or six
anches in length, the plant has kind of bushy
appearance; then the plant is hilled nearly to
the top. It is now left to grow until it has
reached nearly the height of three feet, when
tits cut down even with the ground, or better,
one inch below. The fibre Of this first growth
can be used, but is not perfect yet, because the
roots and bulbs are not large enough, aud
there are as yet too many side shoots.
A few days after this cutting, great many
face. The whole work now consists in keeping
out all weeds. This second growth will be, under
similar circumstances, great deal more rapid
than the first was, and can be cut when about
four feet high; each growth will have fewer
side sho DTS, and soon they will disappear alto
gether. The planting in the field ought to be
done in the spring, but can be continued until
the beginning OF September Those which are
planted late should be covered in winter with
straw or leaves, because they are too young and
tender to resist severe trosts, Those planted
early in spring and summer do not need any
protection, as they will make roots eighteen to
twenty-fOur inches deep. All refuse matter fall
ing off in cleaning the fibre ought to be fed or
cured and put in the barn sor winter use. All
the manure coming from the plant ought to be
carefully gathered and put back on the field.
In this way, such field will give rich return
for many years. without need of being replant-
ed. The experience in regard to soil is yet
limited, but it is certain that q rich sandy loan
suits the plant very we'll. The plant can be
grown so far north as the earth does not
freeze more than four inches deep in winter.
The best portions Of this country will be the
southern part of Texas, and the States Of Lou
isiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South
Carolina and Florida.
USE OF THE RAMIE.
The ramie is useful in two ways. It con-
tains, first, G, silk-ike fibre of uncommon
strength and fineness; and, second. The refuse
furnishes all excellent food for stock, which in
quantity compares favorably with clover. The
fbre will not only replace the cotton, but is
bound to be strong rival to flax. In strength
it's fibre is nearest to silk, and as soon as there
is o little more experience and intelligence
brought into requisition, by the cultivation
and manufacture OF the textile, it will be found
to be the best substitute for silk.
Suppose this plant to have none Of this use
full fibre, it's cultivation would be Of immense
value as food for stock, in great many por-
tions of the South Another most important
point in introducing the ramie here, is It's easy
cultivation. The first year it requires no more
work than sweet potatoes, and then the main
work rs in harvesting. The quantity OF fibre
will be more and the price double that Of cotton.
In case field should be ploughed up after a
series OF years for some other purpose, then
the roots and bulbs will make excellent food
for hogs, or can be manufactured into
durable dye.
The fences have to be kept in good order,
because il cows and hogs are once accustomed
to it, they will break down poor fence to get
to it. During the winter cows can be turned
into ramie fields, but hogs and horses should
be kept out. So far this plant has no destruc-
tive enemies. The sn-callea :sattio worm
makes it's appearance some seasons, but never
hurts the fibre; it is satisfied with the lower
leaves OF the plant, and is in this way harmless.
Besides, il they we're as destructive as the cot
ton worm they could not injure the crop very
much, as each cutting lis matured in o very
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