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

The ramie belongs to the nettle family
Whoever saw lu1uriant nettle IN fence cor
ner awaiting the unwary to make his hands
smart, has nearly true picture OF the ramle III
its appearance. The ramle, STANDING slngle'
is inclined to make many side shoots or late
rails. which is especially the case the first sea-
son. AS soon as it has been once or twice cut
down. close to CT rather about ons inch under
the ground, and the roots have become strong
ar, large number Of ratoons Will sprout from
the roots and bulbouns. and toW or 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 beSlns
to color little darker near the ground. The
size which the plants reach In a certain tune
varies according to richness and kind OF SOIL,
as we'll as Gather and mode OF cultivation.
As general rule it may be said as soon as sne
stems have reached little more than four
feet, the fibre will be OF good quality, but does
not get hurt ii left uncut til! it reaches eight tC
ten feet in length.
It cannot be too much recommended to have
the piece Of land intended for the ramle deep
" cultivated; sub-soiled to fourteen inches
would not be too deep, and this Is the most
hborious work in the whole cultivation. Inc
first wear weeds have to be cut out, but this
will give but little trouble. The second year
the plant will have 80 many rotoons that other
plants will have no room TO vegetate. From
this time the cultivation will give very little
trouble, except one ploughlng 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 o cart or wagon. The rows ought to be
about four feet apart, and the plants IN the
rows half that distance. When the HE'LL Is
ready for planting, q tulrow Is made every four
feet, about three to four inches deep, and IN
these burrows the plants are placed, with little
more care than negroes plant sweet potatoes.
The burrows ought to be made 80 that the
rain will not stand too long, yet all heavy
washing ought to be prevented. Rooted plants
as we'll as layers ought to be covered with
earth nearly to the top; roots ought to be cov-
cred with earth two or three inches deep. In
case some plants or roo, should not grow, the
vacancies should be fix as soon as possible,
and always the best plans taken for this pur-
pose 80 as to get an even growing held. AS
soon as the plants have reached seven to eight
inches in height, they should be topped as In
the nursery to force out side shoots. When
these latter are grown to ABOUT hve or SIX
inches in length, the plant has kind OF bushy
appearance; then the plant is hiIled nearly to
the top. 1t is now lett to grow until 1t has
reached nearly the height Of three feet, when
it is cut down even with the ground, or better,
one inch below. The fibre OF thus first growth
can be used, but is not perfect yet, because the
roots and bulbs are mot iarges gseato enough aad
4 few days after this cutting, great many
ratoons will make their appearance Oh the sur
face. The whole work now consists IN Keeping
out all weeds. This second growth will be, under
similar circumstances, o great deal more rapid
than the first was. aud can be cut when about
four feet high; each growth Will nave 1eWef
side shoots, aud soon they will disappear alto
sether. The planting in the field ought to be
done in the spring, but caa be continued until
the beginning OF September. Those which are
planted late should be covered IN winter with
stray or leaves, because they are too young aud
tender to resist severe trosts. Those planted
early in spring anu 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 out in the barn for 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 Ill regard to soil Is yet
limited, but it IS certain thlta nch sandy loan
suite the plant very well. Tho plant can be
prown 80 far north rs the ccr:a does not
freeze more than four inches deep IN winter.
The best portions OF this country will be tine
southern part of Texas, and the States OF Lou
isiana Mississippi. Alabama, Georgia, South
Carolina and Florida.
USE OF The EAH1r.
r,e ran;s is useful in two Tays. 1t coS'
+o;rs frst. silk-iko fibre OF uncommon
strength and fineness; and, secord, the rttuso
tT1rn,shes an excellent food tor stock, when ID
,nan.ity com Jares favorably with clover. Inc
4hra viii not only replace the cotton, but is
bonnd TO be strong rival to fax. ln strength
its fibre is nearest to silk, and as soon as there
ia a little moro experience and lnteiiSence
brought into req9isition. ny tIo Iii ho fannd
and manufacture Of the textile, 1t @lu DO louno
to be the best substitute for SILK.
Snopose this plant to have mono OF this use
fui fibre. its cultivation would be OF immense
value as food for stock, in great many Por.
tifns OF the South. Another most important
point in introducing the ramle here, ls Its easy
cultivation. Tro 6rsl year 1t requires no more
work than sweet potatoes, and then the main
work IS in harvesting. The quantity OF fibre
viii be mere and the price double that OF cotton
In case field should bo plouShed up after
series Of years for some other purpose, tnen
the roots and bulbs will make excellent fooo
for hogs, or can be manufactured into
durable dye.
The fences have to be kept in good order.
becaus, II COWS and hogs are ones accustomed
to it, they will break down a poor fence to get
70 it. During the winter COWS can be turned
into ramie fields, but hogs and horses should
be kept out So far tins plant has no de,truc-
tive enemies. The so-caAed nestle worm
,,,,l.es liza appearance some seasons, but never
hmrts the fibre; it is sahsied with the lowe.
m leaves OF ia plant. and is in this WY harmless.
Besides, il they were as destructive as the cot
ton worm they could not injure the crop very
much, as each cutting Is matured il ver-