Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-08-07
THE DEVILS PLANT
A Weed Which Has Been . Farmers Peat
Proves to be Worth slO 900 900 Year
10 tho County.


Philadelphia Record.
"See hyar, boy; dye know wot
pesky fool owns that there truck
patch 2"
The scene was the other side Of
Camden, just on the borders Of Coop
er's Creek. 1t vas Jersey coun-
tryman that asked the question, and
as be spoke he pointed to large
tract of land thickly studded with
green plants. 1t 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 as a
"darned old weed" had been allowed
to take complete possession.
This "weed" is what is known in
botanical language as the "Abutil0n
aUicean@." Every farmer knows it
by sight, but few would recognize it
by its scientific name. To them it is
only pest, and bad one at that. 1T
makes its appearance among the
corn, the potatoes, the berry bushes,
in fact here, there, and everywhere,
and no device known TO the farmers
will rid them of it. If one Is pulled
up another is sure TO come in its
place. If let alone it will not stop
growing until il is head and shout
ders above the tallest of tall men. 1t
will thrive in the hottest sun, and it's
seeds 81 for each plant scatters ounces
promiscuously every season-have
such a tenacious life that they will
resist the hardest frost 10 fact, both
plant and seeds will survive any
amount of ill-treatment. "Devil's
plant" is the sobriquet which many
farmers have given 1t, and if an ex-
PLANTATION is asked for they will SOL
EMMY aver that only the Evil One
could have saddled such pest upon
the agricultural community.
Yet the Devils plant" has proved
to be blessing in disguise, and a
big one at that. From it can be
produced fibre infinitely superior to
Indian jute. This discovery was
brought about bv a French gentle
man, M. Emile lie Franc, who has
resided in America for about nine
years. He is an authority on fibrous
plants, and has written several re.
ports on the subject for the National
Agricultural Department. During
the Centennial he came to reside in
Philadelphia, and devoted some of
his spare time in an examination of
the fibrous plants of New jersey.
The Abuttton aUicenn9 attracted his
attention, ana little investigation
brought him to the conclusion that
the plant possessed no uncomfortable
value. He commenced operating by
secret process of his own invention
and found that the bark around the
straight stem contained valuable
fibre. With little more labor this
fibre was brought to the condition
required by manufacturers, and sew.
eral to whom it was shown pro-
nounced it equal to the jute imported
by them from India. NJ. LIE Franc
also found that the short fibres could
be made into new tissue which can
be employed in the manufacture of a
new fabric.
This important discovery was not
allowed to slumber. M. lie Franc
reported it to the New Jersey Bureau
of Statistics of Labor and Industries,
and also determined to go into the
manufacture of jute and the raising
of the "Devil's plant" The Bureau
gave its cooperation, and issued, un-
der its seal, an offer from M. LeFranc
TO pay SO per ton for straight iute
stalks, not less than three or four feet
in height, delivered in Camden. The
circular also advised farmers to 90
into the cultivation of the plant, and
gave important information relative
to the sowing of seeds, methods of
planting, and other particulars. This
circular was the first information
which the Jersey agriculturalists re
ceived of the prize which was con-
tanned in their former enemy.
The cultivation of the "Devil's
plant" is to be generally followed in
different parts of New Jersey. As
the plant is also to be found in this
State, it is anticipated that Pennsvl-
vania farmers may find it to their
profit to devote some attention to it.
The discovery is calculated to have
an important effect upon the trade of
the country. Its ultimate result will
undoubtedly be to render the United
States independent of the world for
a commodity which is now costing
our manufacturers fully sl0,00O,OOO
annually. The total importations of
hemp, flax, ramie, and jute into this
country are valued at over 100000.
900 year. The .jute alone repre-
sents. one.third of this amount. The
supply comes exclusively from India
The latter's trade 10 if has become
the leading staple of Bengal. In this
country jute is used for numberless
among them tor rope and |
carpet backs. 1t is also frequently
mixed with linen in the manufacture
of cloths. England, and in fact the
whole OF Europe, are dependent up
on the Indian plantations for their
supply. The New Jersey Bureau is
authority for the statement that "ex-
tensive jute rope manufacturers of
Philadelphia have offered to buy any
quantity at the highest jute market
price that the long fibre is equiva-
ent to that of the Calcutta prime
ute, and that the manufacturers ad
nit the superiority of the Am erican
variety over the imported" In the
face of this testimony it is not too
much to hazard the opinion that ere
many years America will not only
supply the home demand for the sta
Die, but will also be able to inaugu-
ate an export trade. At lesst SO
hink those connected with the en-
erprise.
In April of last year the Record
announced that the Government of
ndia had offered a premium of $685.
100 to any individual or company
which could invent the best machine
or the preparation of ramie, or In
liam grass The treatment of these
'laDts in that country, as well as in
china, is entirely by hand This Of
ar mama m fha pofioa IS NJ t.