, 1878-05-31
Jute.
LETTER OF PROFESSOR wArEnuo,s,

DEAR SIR; My interest in the irdr.
Trial welfare of the country induces 10.
to address you upon subject Of pro.,
economic moment. 9''A'
Personal investigation in In6in h,ro
fully convinced me that jute can be nv,
uraIized in the United States. Tbo co"
ditions Of soil and climate in Som,So.-
States and in California are suited to ,ha
growth of this plant. The con mcrciT G
Importance of jutc is now immense. Tho
culture Of this staple now adds scores &c
millions annually to the productive wrol,h
OF India. Amid all the vast and divor
sfied productions of that fruitfu, Ina
only cotton, opium and rice exceed in,r
mercantile value. In 1879, besides alI
the domestic consumption of ju,e. zoo
000oOO pounds were exported to foreign
countries The United Kingdom now
annually manufactures more than 3Oo
100000 pounds Of the fiber.
The range of its uses is broad. Il now
enters into the manufacture of almost
every kind of fabric, from the coarsest
gunny cloth to the finest satin. Il il
claimed that the culture of jute is les,
exhaustive to the land and more nrn6t
able to the cultivator than that of sugar.
cane or cotton. The plant grows Nth
rank luxuriance. Sometimes the vieId
per acre is $500 pounds.
The cheapness of native ute for baos
and baling would facilitate the move.
ment OF our crops and the revival of onr
domestic commerce. The fertility of our
soil, the economy Of our agricultural
machinery, eur skilled labor and scien.
titic supervision, and our superior cbemi.
cal and mechanical processes of trent.
ment, will aSsuredly enable Americans
successfully to compete with the rude
manual industry of India in the cultiva.
tion and manufacture of this important
staple.
Planters, chemists and inventors NAV
protitably direct their attention to this
new source Of personal and public wealth.
Improvements in methods Of cultivation,
in processes of sleeping the plant, and
in mechanical facilities for removing the
bark, would open to ingenious minds un
trodden paths to opulence.
Perhaps the Middle States, also, are
adapted to the growth of jute. Even in
the case OF failure, the experiments
would involve no serious loss; while, in
the event Of success, the new industry
would enrich the nation. But in order
to avoid possible loss, the tests in the
Central States should be made on a small
scale. The experience of the present
season will determine to what extent jute
culture in the United States eau profit
ably be carried.
Jute seed and practical instructions
with regard to the time of planting and
the preparation of the fiber for market
can be obtained from the Agricultural
Commissioner at Washington. But the
time for active work has already arrived,
and planters who are purposing to test,
during the present season, the adaptation
of American soil 10 jute culture, should
make immediate application to the Com.
missioner for seed.
An industry fraught with such posi-
bilities of national wealth deserves en-
couragement by Legislative bounties.
1t is hoped that your Excellency will
further the success Of this undertaking
by official recommendations and that the
Legislature and State Board of Agricul.
ture will actively aid an enterprise whose
prosperity would so effectively promote
the material interests OF the nation.
Very respectfully yours,
SYLVESTER WATERHoUsR.