Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1879-11-18
Devils Weed or American Jute.

Devils Weed or American Jute.
THERE'S weed growing in great pr
fusion in all the cultivated fields of OF
valley, particularly conspicuous in corr
fields after the stalks are cut and abol
the corners of fences, which has bee
recently discovered possesses matters
aud marketable value, and which prol
ably may become q cultivated staple
add to the standard products now grow
by our farmers. This weed, when N
cognized, will strike the eye as familial
ly as either the jamestown or the mul
len. When mature. 1t has broad les
and slender stalk and grows to the heigt
of six feet, and in the fall bears ribbe
pod about the size of a hickory nu
filled with black seed. The diameter {
the stalk is about half an inch on tn
average, nearly its entire length, an
when dry is of light gray. tits covere
with fiber of light gray color, il
which its value consists, as this fiber
what is called American Jute, CORES
.ponding with fax or hemp, out c
which bagging or ropes are made, an
the crude article is represented to b
worth as much as So per ton. With u
it grows wild as weed, but if cultivat
ed the stalk could be enlarged to fou
times the present size, and experience
might prove itsto be q valuable adjunct
when cultivated, to our present pro.
ducts.
From the Scientific american we tax,
the following valuable article on the
subject -
4 "Emersen's definition of weed, a.
a plant whose uses had not been discov
ed, seems to be happily applicable tc
the Abutiton 0vicennCe, politely known
as "velvet leaf" but called by Jersey
farmers devils plant" Gray describes
it as tall leaves roundish heart.shaped
taperDointed, and velvety; peduncles
shorter than leaf-stalks corolla yellow
pods IL to Is, hairy, beaked; annual
abounds in waste places, escaped from
gardens. Imperfectly naturalized from
India. -,f
This thrifty weed has become a per-
feet nuisance in New Jersey and Penn
sylvania; possibly IN other States. It
appears to survive almost any amount
of hardship and ill treatment, and is
heartily hated by farmers and garden
ers. Yet, ifsrecent reports be true, this
troublesome plant promises to become
one of the great sources of national
profit, owing to the superior fiber 1t has
been found to contain. The discovery
of this fiber, the Philadelphia Record
tells, was brought about by a French
gentleman, M. Emile LIE Franc, who
has resided in America for about nine
years. He is an authority on fbrous
plants, and has written several reports
on the subject for the National Agricul-
tural Department. During the Centen-
nial he came to reside in Philadelphia,
and devoted some Of his spare time to
an examination of the fibrous plants of
New Jersey. p.
The AbEtilon awcenne attracted his
attention, and a little investigation
brought him to the conclusion that the
plant possessed no inconsiderable value.
He commenced operating by secret
process of his own Invention, aud found
that the bark around the straight stem
contained a valuable fibe. With a little
more labor this fiber was brought to the
condition required by manufacturers,
and several, to whom it was shown,
pronounced it equal to the jute import
ed by them from India. M. LIE Franc
also found that the short fibres could
be made into new tissue which can be
employed in the manufacture of new
fabric.
This important discovery was not to
be allowed to slumber. M. LIE Franc
reported it the New Jersey Bureau of
Statistics of Labor and Industries, and
also determined to 60 into the manufac-
ture of jute and the raising of the s'dev-
IFS plant.n The Bureau gave its CO.
operation, and issued, under its seal.
an offer from M. LIE Franc to nav EIGHT
dollars per ton for straight iute stalk.
not less than or feet in height. de-
livered in Camden. The circular also
advised farmers to go into the Guilt
walton of the plant, and gave important
inflammation relative to the sewing of
seed. methods Of planting, and other
particulars. This circular was the first
information which the Jersey agricul-
turists received of the prize which was
in their former enemy,
The cultivation of the "levil's plantn
is to be generally followed in different
parts of New Jersey. As the plant is
also to be found in Pennsylvania, it is
that Pennsylvania farmers
may find it to their profit to devote
some attention to il. The discovery ia
calculated to have an important effect
upon the trade of the country. Its ul-
innate result will undoubtedly be to
render the United States independent
of the world for commodity which is
now costing our manufactures fullv
SIC, ,OO0,0 900 annually. Vhe total impor.
tations as hamp, FAX, ramie, and lutte
!nto this country are valued at over
$3O 900, 600 year. The jute alone rep
resents one-third of this amount. The
supply comes exclusively from India
ana the latter's trade in it has increased
to such an extent that it has become
the leading staple of Bengal. In this
country Jute is used for numberless pur.
poses, among them for rope and carpet
backs. 1t is also frequently mixed with
linen in the manufacture of clothes
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 statement that extensive iute
rope manufacturers of Philadelphis
have offered to buy any quantity at the
highest jute market price: that the
long fiber is equivalent to that of the
Calcutta prime jute, and that the man
ufacturers admit the superiority of the
American variety over the imported. j,
In the face of this testimony il is moi
too much to hazard the opinion that err
many yeara America will not only su o.
ply the home demand for the STAPLE
but will also be able to inaugurate ar
export trade. At least so think thos.
connected with the enterprise.
McDoNALD's FIsHERY.-Ons CT the
most interesting things at tAe State Fair
and that attfactad general attention, wa.
McAonald's Fishway. These Ways
will soon be put up on all our streams
and there is bright promise of excel
lent results therefrom. The Richmond
IntelIagencer gives the following inter.
esting facts in regard to the WORT which
has already been done: "
Since 1873 4.436, $50 shad have been
put IN the waters of our State. In 1877.
1850, 900 of them were put in our James
river, and since then, perhaps, as many
more have been added. Eighty thous,
and California salmon, thirty Thousand
OF brook trout, and a considerable mum
Der land locked salmon black hase apf