The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1871-12-27
The Ramie PLANT.



We are indebted 20 II. NJ. Whitney for the
following interesting account Of the culture o.
the Ramie We have frequently spoken Of the
aiapubiGiy Of certain Districts on the Island;
for the culture Of this plant. and hope that our
readers viii carefully peru=e the article below
We have heretofore alluded to the introduc.
ton into some Of the Gulf States. Of that remark
able plant-the Ramie-and the extraordinary
accounts that are given Of its produetiveness and
profits. We have received from New Orleans,
which is the headquarters Of the district iu which
the plant is cultivated, treatise full Of interest
and OF wonders, describing in minute detail its
growth. the method Of eeltura, aud the manner
Of extracting the fibre from the plant \ careful
study OF its characteristics and Of the essentials
to its successful cultivation couynces Us that it
is especially adapted to the rich soil and mild
\ climate OF Tulare Valley and Of Southern Cali
tornia generally. 1, promises such large profits
that, once introduced, it must soon become the
great staple Of that sectien Of country. Iu view
Of It's great prospective value to the State and
the tact that bat little Is known to our people Of
its habits and mode Of culture, we feel that we
could not give up our space to more interesting
matter
The Ramie belongs to the same family as the
common nettIe. of which the hemp is also a
variety. 1t is native of Java, where it has
long been cultivated for the English market. bat
owing to the rude manner and laborious hand
processes BY which the 6bre is extracted by the
natives the supply has been very limited. All
that could be obtained, however. was eagerly
bought up at high prices and was secretly used
by few mills in France and England, by mixing
It with cotton for the manufacture of the most
brililian, and costly tissues. The greater portion
thzt found its way to Europe has been employed
10 the production Of the finest lace fabrics, for
which it is iar superior to the best fax fibre. II
was introduced into New Orleans in March, 1867,
and such has been its popularity that it has
already been largely cultivated in Louisiana and
Mississippi \ single planter in the latter State
offers 100000 plants for sale, and the planters
generally are taking hold of 1t eagerly as a more
reliable and profitable crop than either sugar or /
cotton. 10 Java. the stems grow TO . height Of /
only Eve or six feet but in Louisiana they run up /
TO ten feet, with q diameter at the ground Of .
two-hiJhs to four-6fths OF an inch. The fibre in \
the South is even finer, longer, and stronger than
IN the East Indies.
Il is claimed for the Ramie that it yields q
finer fibre than Sea Island cotton, is stronger
than the best fax or hemp, and is as brilliant as
silk.
It is q hardy and vigorous grower, and its
growth is continuous. A crop once planted, will
stand for years without repIenishng. 1t requires
less labor to cultivate than cotton, is not de-
stroyed by worms, does not suffer by excess Of
ntn, and withstands the longest drought without
Injury. 1t will produce in a suitable soil and
climate, from three to i've crops each year, each
crop equal TO the best gathered from hemp, and
the product Of one acre Of Ramle viii yield, at
present prices. six times the profit of the same
acre cultivated in cotton.
10 a warm climate the plant Is perennial, and
The crops from it are taken. ike those Of cane,
BY eating it at the ground. From the ratoon 4
lew growth springs up at ouce, giving three, four,
lnd even i've cuttings per annum in Texas, Louis
ana Mississippi and Alabama. 1t prefers rich.
.andy soil, but its growth is so vigorous it will
flourish iu any rich soil. 1t yields from 600 to
200 pounds Of fibre per acre, said to be worth 40
20 so cents per pound in England 1t is stated
hat Leading houses in Manchester and New
York have engaged all that can be produced in
he South. and offer to furnish the capital neees-
ary to cultivate it.
From all that is related Of this wonderful
liant, it would seem that it is exposed to no Z
peclal danger in 8 suitable climate, has no
nemies, requires bat little labor, needs bot
mall capital TO produce q crop, proPagales rap {
ily, yields largely. commands ready market at
high price for all that can be produced, aud the
larkst IS never likely to be oyerstocked, as the G
rsa for its successful growth is limited to belt
long the Gulf coast and to the southern counties
{ California aud perhaps the Valley Of the Gils.
be moist, rich soil and the warm climate, free
ION heavy frosts, Of the TalaFe Valley, ought to
rodaee it in perfection.
The plant Is started with root-entti1gs, planted I
lres inches in the ground, which should be +,
lowed twelve inches deep. well palyerizsd and q
leaned Of all Weedy roots BY working it 10 fur I
1vs three feet apart. The roots are then planted
ns yard apart. These will soon spFoui aud rua a
? INTO many stems, appearing ike bush. As 4
1on Is these stems are eight inches high, they :
re bound down to the groq1d and covered With a
arth, leaving nothing bat the tips visible. In y
,ar or fge weeks ell these stems will become 3
o~erful roots, aad young plants viii spring from
ZEN. These are cut Of and trsnsplanted. q
IeaDtime the mother plant Eil again sprout, l.
% can De treated as before. It can be propa- q
lted BY layers, cuttings and divisions Of the a
,Ois With great rapidity, and can Be multiplied I,
the rate Of one hundred for one. 3
When proPagated By cuttings, they should be q
ON I've to siI inches IL length, should be lah
aaFly horizontally ia the ground, 50 as to show Y
1t more than an inch above the surfacs The p
ots can Be cut il pieces three Or four inches in a
ngth. and planted in the same manner. q
We have given a sketch Of the origin, the a
ed. and the mode Of propagzting ths Ramie C,
AIT, With 3 statement Of the extraordinary =
xtiIs Ebrs sxtzctsd from it. If half that IS q
aimed for it prove reality, It must soon sup u
ant, f0r certain fabrics Sea Island cotton, fax 81
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