The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1869-05-15
The Humic Plant.

Among the now staples which orc attracting
general attention in England, France and the
United States, is the RAvIE, To which we have
before alluded several times. But The fact that
it's cultivation is now being commenced with
much yigor in the Southern States, and with fair
prospect Of success. leads us to refer to it again,
with the hope of Inducing some to engage in
growing it here. for our climate is believed TO he
just the one best adapted to it. We notice that
q nurscryman ut the S1uth has sold drring the
past few months over one million Ramie plants,
which Indicates the extent tie Southerners are
taking hold of it.
The plant is said to be n native of Java, but
grows throughoutjthc Eas, Indies. the Philippines,
and China, where it is cultivated and used in
the manufacture of that elegant fabric known
rs gruss-cloJh-which, when pure, is one of the
most durable materials known, and superior in
many respects TO cotton, linen, or silk. When
cultivated in sandy soil. which is the best for it,
it shoots up stalks, without branches, from five
to ten feet in length, and from half TO three
quarters Of an inch in diameter. The length of
the stalk and the quality of the fibre depend on
the richness of the soil and the care bestowed in
its cultivation.
The ground is prepared in the same way, and
the plants are propaGatcd precisely as in sugar
cane culture, from slips, planted in rows four or
five feet apart, and three feet apart in the rows.
Tie hoeing and cuitivating are also TIE same as
required for the cane. and Us soon as the stalks
have reached their growth they are cut and carted
off to the mill, where they are treated like hemp
or flax, i. G., run through n mill 50 as to break
the stalks. separating the bark or fibre from the
,-a.l ,rlf,I i 81 ~, ,r.o Tho ftra l. tlpp
cleaned, by n simple process, from the outer or
dark covering, which leaves it Of a bright and
glossy appearance.
The mills now used for separating the fibre
from the woody stalk are manufactured in Louis
lana, and supplied for two hundred and fifty
dollars each. one mill being sufficient TO work up
the product of forty or fifty acres.
The plant is a rapid grower, and when there
is plenty Of rain. all other circumstances being
it viii produce n crop every two
months, or say FIVE crops 4 year. The yield per
acre in Louisiana in 1865, was about COO pounds,
some lands yielding 500 pounds but this result
was from only three Groupings. In Mexico, it
FIVE and even sin crops a year, and it
would probably yield as much if not more here.
The value OF the fibre rs it leaves the producers
hands Is worth from ten to fifteen cents per
pound but after going through a bleaching pro-
in England it, value is enhanced to forty
cents and even more. Some statements make it
rs high as fifty, and one of our correspondents says
i has sold for s~ixty-fve cents 4 pound. which
must be FOR the very choicest.
One advantage in the cultivation of Ramie is
,hc small capital required, the outlay for mills and
machinery being light compared with that for
sugar. The chief expenses are the land, labor of
,ultiyating, carting, grinding, and cost Of mill
and buildings. The cost Of preparing the land
md cultiyating will be about the SAINT as for
,ane. say twenty dollars per acre; for cutting,
and curing the fibre, perhaps twenty
more: making the total cost per acre
.bOut forty dollars. This would be for the first
-roP. which j. more expensive than the others, as
DO new planting viii be required for several
-ears-fye or six probably.
The receipts, estimating the fibre worth here
ny twelve cents. for COO pounds, would be $50
er acre. leaving a handsome profit to the cult
ator. Bat it Is likely that five crops a year,
oG three. could Zoe taken oil here. which