New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-01-04

The Rsmie Plant seems likely to fulfill all
that at first it promised. The plant is native
of Java, and its fibre is admirably adapted for
use, either separately or in conjunction with
silk or cotton. 1t is easily raised. is exceed
ingly productive, and is in demand by the
European manufacturers. 1t is only since
1874 that it has been known generally in
Europe, and only since 1867 that it has been
cultivated in this country, in which year it was
first planted in Louisiana. In that year that
State and Mississippi grew 1900 acres of it,
ln California the Pacific Ramie Company"
is organized, and will plant large tracts of
land with it as soon AS the rains will permit
European manufacturers have guaranteed q
constant demand in excess of the supply.
w hat Is needed, in order to the cheapest sup
ply, Is machine to remove the outer husk
from the bark, and to separ ate the bark from
the wood-a counterpart, in fact, to the cotton
gin. A member of the British East India
Commissioners has offered q twenty-five thou
sand dollar prize for a machine that will do
this work properly, which will serve to stimu-
late the energies Of inventors. In the report
of the Department of Agriculture for 1870, We
find the following: 1.-The Ramie Plant, or the
China Grass of commerce, cultivated in many
parts Of the South, from seed furnished orgi.
nally through this Department, is found well
adapted to that portion of the country, and
when it can be utilized cheapy it may become
a staple crop. 1t multiples very rapidly from
root planting, one hundred roots having in one
year produced plants enough for over one hun
dred and fifty acres, as reported from Lou
siana. In Fayette county. Tennessee, it grows
very thriftily, and produces q beautiful glossy
fibre. In Goliad, Texas, it grows we'll both
from seeds and roots, and in Austin the staple
is reported long, fibre excellent, white and
silky" When it is recollected that the plant
is to be cut when five feet high, and that
successful dressing machine is all that is ne
cessary to that cheap utilization which shall
render its culture of less cost than that of
cotton, it is clear that we have new and
valuable textile material
"A novel trial is reported to have taken
place in London. A lady went to ball, and
when preparing to return to her home in the
evening Z, before going to her carriege took off
her couture and tied it up in handkerchief to
keep it fresh for a party she was to attend the
following night, and that she might the more
conveniently put warmer wraps on her head
the evening being cold. When she reached
her dwelling the couture was not in the car
rage She despatched messenger for it, but
it could not be found. Some days after she
met en- acquaintance, whose hair was the same
color as her own-rather peculiar hue-and
was satisfied she wore her couture. She taxed
her with it. Of course it was indignantly
denied. So certain was the lady that it was
her hair the other had taken from the ball and
was wearing, she sued her for it. When the
trial came on the defendant struck the pros
ecutcr dumb and convinced tbs Court by let
| ting down her tresses and showing they were
her own, thereby procuring judgment in her
favor. Subsequently she quarreled with her
hair dresser, when it came out that the hair
she had so dexterously exhibited as having
grown on her head had grown on some other
head, but had been srtfally and artistically
arranged for the pulling down process by the
hair dresser.
"A preacher, whose custom it was to indulge
In very long sermons, exchanged with one who
preached short ones. At about the usual time
for Diminishing the audience began to 20 out,
until nearly all had left, when the sexton, who
had stood it as long as he could, walked q to
the pulpit stairs, and said to the preacher in a
whisper when you have got through, lock
up, VIII ,you and leave the key at my house,
| next TO the church,