Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-09-11
THE "DRvIL's PLANT. !"
A Weed which Has Been n Parm.r.
Pest Proves.to be Worth SO 600, 900
Year TO ths Counsry--Uov "a has
Proved n HIsssfag

1
fool owns that there truck patch"
The scene was the other side of Camden,
Just IN the border Of CoOper's creek. II
was a Jersey countryman that asked the
question, and as he spoke he pointed To
"A large tract Of land thiekly studded
with green plants. IL was the sight of
the plants that inspired his disgust.
Right before him was one Of the finest
pieces Of ground In the neighborhood,
and yet what he characterized a. a
darned old weed " had been allowed
10 take complete possession.
The weed Is what il known in bo-
ttnlcal language as the {" lJtlttI0u
aoscenn0.' Every farmer knows il by
sight, but few would recognize il by its
scientific name. To them Il Is a pest. and
bad one at that. II makes its appear
ance among the corn, the potatoes, the
perry bushes, in fact here. there and
! everywhere, and no device known 10 the
FARMERS will rid them of it, If one Is
! puiied up another is sure To come in its
place. If let alone il will not stop grow
| ing until II ~ head and shoulders above
the tallest ftall men. II will thrive in
the hottest sun, and its secds-for each
plant scattsrs ounces promiscuously
| every sfason-have such tenacious jk
that they will resist the hardest frost.
In iAct. both plant and seeds will survive
any amount Of i'll treatment Devils
| Plant is the sobriquet which many
FARMERS have given il. and an explana-
tion is asked for they will solemnly aver
| their belief that only the evil one could
have saddled such a pest upon the agri-
cultural community.
Yet the DEVILS Plant" has proved
to be a blessing in disguise, and a big
one at that. From il can be produced a
hber Infinitely superior 70 Indian iute.
lhiE discovery was brought about by
French gentleman. NJ. Emile l.. Franc.
who has resided in America for about
nine years. He is an authority on
hbrous plants. and has written several
| reports on the subject for the National
| Agricultural Department. During the
| Centennial he came To reside in Phila-
| dciphla, and devoted some of his spare
time In AN examination of the fibrous
| plants OF New Jersey. The AJiLttlOa
drIoenys0 attracted his attention. and
! little investigation brought him TO the
| conclusion that the plant possessed no
inconsiderablc value. He commenced
! operating by secret process of his own
! invention, and found that the bark
around the straight stem contained "A
/ very valuable fiber. With little more
/ labor this fiber was brought 10 the
condition required by manufacturer,
and several 10 whom il WAS shown pro-
! nounced il equal TO the jute imported
/ by them from India. NJ. I>e Franc also
| found that the short fibers could be
/ made into new tissue which can be
| employed in the manufacture of a new
| fiber.
This important discovery was not 10
be allowed TO slumber. NJ. lie Franc
| reported il TO the New Jersey Bureau Of
Statistics Of Labor and Industries, and
also determined TO 20 into the manu-
iacturc Of jute and the raising Of the
DEVILS Plant The bureau gave its
| cooperation. and issued, under its seal,
an offer from Nj. Franc to pay eight dol
| lars per ton for the straight jute stalks,
| not less than three or four feet in height,
delivered in Camden. The circular also
advised farmers 10 20 into the culiIva-
tion Of the plant, and gave important
information relative 10 the sowing Of
seeds. methods Of planting and other
particulars. This circular was the first
information which the Jersey agricul-
turists received Of the prize which was
contained In their former enemy.
The cultivation OF the Devils
Plant" is to he generally followed in
/ different parts of New Jersey. As the
| plant Is also TO be found in this State,
| It is anticipated that Pennsylvania
farmers may lind IL 10 their profit to de-
vote some attention 20 it. The discov-
cry is calculated 10 have an important
effect upon the trade of the country.
| It's ultimate result will undoubtedly be
20 render the United States independent
of the world for a commodity which is
now costing our manufacturers fully
$4,000. 600 annually. The total impoT-
tations of hemp, flax, ramie and jute
into this country are valued at over
SO. 600. 600 year. The jute alone,
represents one-third of this amount.
The supply comes exclusively from
India, and the latter's trade in il has be-
come the leading staple Of Bengal. In
this country iute is used for numbcTless
purposes, among them for rope and car
pet backs. 1t is also frequently mixed
with linen in the manufacture of cloths.
England, and in fact the whole Of Eu-
rope, are dependent upon the Indian
plantations for their supply. The New
Jersey bureau is authority for the state
ment that extensive jute rope manu-
iacturers of Philadelphia have offered TO
buy any quantity at the highest juie
market price; that the long fiber is
equivalent TO that of the Calcutta prime
Jutc, and that the manufacturers admit
the superiority of the American variety
over the imported" In the face Of this
testimony IL is not too much to hazard
the opinion that ere many years America
will not only supply the home demand
for the staple, but will also he able to
inaugurate an export trade. At least.
so think those connected with the enter
prise.
In April Of last year the Record an
nounced that the government Ct India
had offered premium of S25. 900 to any
individual or company which could in
vent the bestmaehine for the preparation
of ramie or Indian gfass. The treatment
of these plants in that country, "a well
As in China, is entirely by hand. This Of
fer came to the notice Of Mr.. NJ. lie
Franc, who has invented a process which
IL claimed TO be the very thing for which
the English government Is seeking.
With this invention he has prepared
some American ramie. and produced \
EfNuia NEXT in annparunca fo eflk lie