Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-01-15
JUTE-A NEW STAPLE.

some months Since We c1lltu Tue al
tention of our agricultural readers to
the value of jute as a new agricultural
plant in the South. and one that was
likely to prove profitable as a staple
crop. Not to lose sight of this matter
we copy the following remarks from
the Commissioner of Agriculture, in
recent report:
Il have taken great pains to impress
upon the Southern planters the impor-
lance of turning their attention to the
cultivation of jute, and IN giving them
special instructions with regard to its
culture, manufacture and use. By the
instrumentality Of this department jute
was first introduced into this country
from Calcutta, and now its cultivation
viii probably become one of the estab-
lished industries of the Southern
States. In 1872 there was imported
into this country, IN bales, II $50 tons,
costing about S64 per ton in gold at the
place Of expectation, Of which, adding
duties, transportation and exchange,
the cost will be more than S4,OOO,OOO
for an article Of consumption Of which
a superior quality can be prOfitahly
raised in many Of the Southern States.
Judging from the tone Of letters re-
ceived from parties engaged IL tie cul-
tivation of this plant, l am assured
that it Will soon become a profitable IN
dustry. to an extent now scarcely cred
ible. and this too in a section of coun-
try where diversity Of product and GER
tain profit is so desirable"
Enterprisingplanters in Louisianahave
raised from 1.2OO to 1000 pounds of
merchantable fiber per acre, worth from
six to eight cents per pound, according
to quality. DIR. Laplace planted two
pounds of seed last spring mainly to
raise seed and increase the supply, of
which he obtained forty pounds. A
part of the crop, however, was cut be-
fore the plants were in blossom, to test
the strength, yield and value of the
fiber. Adjusting the cylinders of the
sugar mill so as to mash the woody
part Of the jute without breaking the
lint, he proceeded to feed the mill with
the jute stalks in precisely the same
way as is customary in crushing cane,
only greater care being taken to lay
the stalks of jute straighter than is
usual with cane. The stalks came
through the rollers mashed and man.
gled. and care was taken not to allow
them to become tangled. In this con-
dition they were removed to watts of
water, in which they were allowed to
rot for eight or ten days. They were
then taken out, and by means of lit
tie shaking all the woody parts dropped
out, leaving nothing but the lint IN all
its integrity and fully cleansed and
purified, and Of beautiful silver color.
DR.. Laplace is fully persuaded that
jute cane can be proftably raised and
prepared for market in this way,
using no other appliances than such
as are found on every sugar plantation.
The sample shown to the Nelo Orleans
Times is reported as fully eight feet
long, having the brightness of burn
ished silver, and strength equal to
flax or hemp" DIR. Laplace says the
seed should be sown in April, and the
crop cut by or before it begins to
bloom. The earlier the cutting, the
finer will be the lint. Therotting should
be in wooden watts in order to produce
a perfectly white fibre.
For cotton bagging, grain sacks,
cheap and durable carpets, .jute is be-
lieved to be the most useful and eco
nomical textile known. Filled with
bitumen and some cheap paint, a
strong covering for the roofs of houses
may be formed which will be at
once water proof and fire proof.
As timber becomes scarce, the frames
of common houses and barns will be
made of iron and covered with cheap
cloth that will be durable and impen-
etrable to a large degree to heatOr cold.
Our present dwellings are not great
improvements on the caves of the Els
quimaux, ancient Cyclops, and all man
kind in prehistoric times. flute sue
ceeds as wellas it nowpromises, a farm
er Will be able to transform the air and
rain of heaven into cloth and a good