The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-02-05
COLUMBIA, S. G..
Friday Morning, February 5. 1859.
AVaIuabIe Product for tho south.


section of the country is worthy of atten-
tlon, as the South, III the future as in the
past. is to be of inestimabe Importance in
the agricultural and commercial world.
The Iamie, which has been spoken of ns
likely to be valuable accession to The pro-
ductions OF the South, appears to be growing
IN estimation. This plant is the finest vnrieiy
of the family of thistles, and the production
OF it is said to be almost equal to silk. It's
propagation in some Southern localities has
been so vigorously proceeded with that we
hear OF o single planter, on the Mississippi,
who offers for sale 100000 plants by spring.
This gentleman says he has received this
year pressing and very large orders for
plants from those who had tried it's cultiva-
and Mobile orders arc declared to have
poured in from all Europe for the purchase
OF tho rough fibre at ten cents (gold) per
pound. In the immense manufacturing es-
tablishments of Joseph Warden & Sons,
Bradford, near Manchester, England, it is
said that no other silk is used than that of
the ramie, which they mix, more or less,
in Saxony. The culture of this article
would seem to be becoming remunerative,
and there is reason to expect that it will
one day be valuable staple. The Balti-
more Sun learns that it is now proposed to
introduce this plant in the Valley of the
Nile. We have seen samples of cloth and
dress fabrics made from it, which fully
attest its importance and value And from
practical source we have some informa-
ton in regard to its cultivation and growth
that, as it is likely to be of value, we com
municate as follows: Wherever the ordinary
thistle succeeds-that is, where the climate
is warm and the earth not subject to hard
frost-tho ramie prospers. In regard to
the mode of production, it is propagatcd
by means Of slips which ought to be placed
at n distance from each other on every side
of from four to six feet, giving them n
slight inclination of about forty y-fve de-
grees,) and buried to depth in proportion
to their respective lengths, so as to leave
EXPOSED only about an inch, keeping the
ground damp, particularly when first
planted, aud carefully weeded until the
shoots have attuined n g,owth of nearly
two feet, after which it will bo neccss:r, 70
bend the stalk with care towards the earth
When they are three or four feet high, and
receive brownish color near the root the
time has come to effect the propagation,
which is done by making, with q thin
baded, sharp and pointed knife slight
incision below each bud of the stalk which
is then to be laid down horizontally in n
furrow of from three to four inches in
depth, covered over with earth, taking care
not to detatch the stem from the mother
root. The first growth will be irregular
and withonHuniformity of thickness, but after
the first cutting, this irregularity ceases
and the fibre becomes finer and stronger.
The shoots multiply rapidly after each cut
ting, covering the ground and preventing
the invasion of weeds. The ramia, which
has been transplanted in the South for two
or three years, has, it is claimed, succeeded
wonderfully. Its culture is less costly and
much more profitable than cotton; it yields
three or four crops year, and each time
5,ooO pounds to an acre, worth, rs it stands,
IN its rough state, fifty-fve pounds sterling
per ton of 2,24O pounds. The threads are
more silky, stronger and longer thar cotton,
producing beautiful stuffs, which, by their
orllllancy, compete with the silks of Lyons
and Is used with equal success mixed with
cotton or wool
there Is exported an article from China,
which Is called China grass, which has
some resemblance to the ramie. But it
differs from it inasmuch as the latter DOS
sesscs very superior fibre, and is of more