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

o. with two or more OF these, producing a variety
Of tissues Of great strength, beauty. and fneneSs
We have already described the mode Of propa-
eating the plant from sections Of the root, from
Cuttings and layers. For the benefit Of those
who wish to experiment upon it, we give the
method Of field culture aud Of extracting the dbre
from the stalks, as pract,eed successfully by the
Planters OF Louisiana and Mississippi.
In countries where the irosts are light, plant
ing may be done either in the spring or fall. In
California, it would probably be better to plant
after the first rains Of November set in 1t is
I Of the first importance that the land should bo
deeply cultivated. Indeed, it is said that the
land should be sub-soiled to depth of At least
twelve inches up TO fourteen inches. This is the
most expensive part of the cultivation. The
6rst year it must be kept clear of weeds, but sf
ter that the plants viii produce SO many ratoous
that no other vegetation can interfere with them.
From this time the labor Of cultivation is very
light, it being only necessary TO plow between
the rows early 10 the spring aud TO manure the
plants in the winter where the soil requires it.
The plants are set out iu rows eighteen inches
apart-the rows themselves three feet apart.
AGer every twenty rows path should be left
wide enough for the passage Of a wagon in which
to gather the Ramie without the wheels passing
over the stalks
When the field has been wel plowed. cleaned
and narrowed, burrows three or four inches deep
are run at intervals of every three feet. and so
arranged that the water does not stand too long
III them, In these furrOws the plants are placed.
requiring no more care than in planting sweet
potatoes.
Rooted plants, as we'll cuttings, must be
covered with earth nearly TO the top.
Roots ought TO be covered with earth to a
depth Of two or three inches. As soon as the
plants have reached height of seven or eight
inches, the tops are nipped of. when side-shoots
will start from almost every leaf When these
side-shoots attain six inches in length, the plant
has bushy appearance. 1t is then hilled nearly
to the top, and at the same time all weeds must
be destroyed. 1t is now left to grow until it
reaches height of three feet, when the stems
are oil cut down even with the ground, or better,
QUE inch below.
The fibre of this first growth of stems can be
used, but it is not yet perfect, as the roots and
bulbs are not yet sufficiently large and there are
yet too many side-shoOts. A very short time
after this cutting, many ratoons will make their 1
appearance above the surface, when the whole 1
work consists Of keeping clear of weeds. This I
second growth will be much more rapid than the /
first, aud should be cut when about four feet /
high. Each growth will have less under-shOOts,
and these will soon disappear altogether.
In Mississippi, it is considered best to plant in
the spring or early sumner. as the plants will
make roots eighteen to twenty-four inches deep.
aud can then stand even severe frosts the follow
ing winter, without being protected bat if they
are planted in August or September, they must
be covered with straw or leaves as the growth
and roots are yet too tender to resist q heavy
frost
A field Of the Ramie thus advanced will give
ich return for many years without being re-
planted. The limited experience Of American
shows that the plant fourishes best
q a rich sandy loan, or in any soil having sub
oil retaining water.
AA1 liSNlsS VI SAtialttus tAs uote - Nti SUR
,le aud inexpensive. 1t is effected by machine
Invented by Dr. Beuito Roezl, who was the first
o introduce the cultivation Of the Ramie into
be South. Hundreds of these machines are
2elug manufactured in New Orleans A single
ne. costing in that place s225, is Sufficient to
.iu the crops of several large plantations. The
talks are ripe when they become brown. They
re submitted when freshly cut to the knives Of
he machine, which strip of the leaves, scraps
way the bark and remove the woody substance
nd three-fourths Of the resinous or gummy mat.
er, the rubbish falling to the ground, aud the
bre remaining uninjured 10 the hands Of the
Perator.
The sSeins Of fibre are then stepped in water
o soften or decompose the remaining one-fourth
{ gum. After being thoroughly saturated. this .
lass Of 6bre is again exposed to the action Of the
laebine, by which it is made soft aud white, and
preads out like piece OF cloth.