San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-03-23
Jute Culture.

Prof. Waterhouse, of St. Louis, has
addressed the following letter to the
Governor of Missouri. The statements
made therein are of general interest:
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, ST. LOUIS
Mo, March 9TH, 1S7S.-HoN. John s.
PHELPS, Governor of Missouri Dear
Sir-My interest in the industrial wei.
fare of the country induces me to ad.
dress you upon subject of great eco.
nomic moment.
Personal Investigations in India have
fully convinced me that jute can be
naturalized in the United States. The
conditions of soil and climate in our
Southern states and in California are
suited to the growth of this plant The
commercial Importance of jute is now
immense. The culture of this staple
now adds scores of millions annually to
the productive wealth of India. Amid
all the vast md diversified productions
of that fruitful land, only cotton, opium,
and rice exceed jute in mercantile value.
In 1872, besides all the domestic con.
sumption of jute, 700,000,000 pounds
were exported to foreign countries.
The United Kingdom now annually
manufactures more than 3O0,000,0OO
pounds of this fiber, The range Of its
uses is broad. 1t now enters into the
manufacture of almost every kind of
fabric, from the coarsest gunny-cloth
to the finest satin. 1t is claimed that
the culture of jute is less exhaustive to
the land and more profitable to the cul-
tivator than that of sugar-cane or cot
ton. The plant grows with rank lux
uriance. Sometimes the yield per acre
is $500 pounds. The cheapness of bags
and baling would facilitate the move
ment of our crops and the revival Of
our domestic commerce. The fertility
of our soil, the economy of our agricul-
tural machinery, our skilled labor and
scientific supervision, and our superior
chemical and mechanical processes of
treatment, will assuredly enable Ameri.
cans successfully to compete with the
rude manual industry of India in the
cultivation and manufacture of this i'm
portant staple. Planters, chemists and
inventors may proftably direct their at
tention to this new source of personal
and public wealth. Improvements in
methods of cultivation in processes Of
stepping the plant, and in me-
chanical facilities for removing
the bark, would open to in
genious minds untrodden paths to opu-
lence. Perhaps the Middle States also
are adapted to the growth of jute. Even
in the case of failure, the experiments
would involve no 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
small scale. The experience of the
present season will determine to what
extent jute-culture in the United States
can proftably 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 adapta'
ton of American soil to jute-culture
should make immediate application to
the Commissioner for seed.
An industry fraught with such posi-
bilities of national wealth deserves en-
enlargement by Legislative bounties. 1t
is hoped that your Excellency will FUR
Their the success of this undertaking by
official recommendations; and that the
Legislature and State Beard of Agrlcul-
ture will actively aid an enterprise whose
prosperity would so effectively promote
the material interests of the nation.
Very respectfully yours,
SYLVESTER WATERHoUsE.