The Osceola times., 1880-11-13
Jute Culture.
St, Louis Republican.

! The directors of the Merchants ex-
change in their meeting received letter
/ from Prof. 5. Waterhouse in relation to
proposed culture OF jute in the Southern
states, as follows:
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, I
ST. LOUIS, Oct. 90, 1880. J
ALEX III. SMITH, President Merchants
Exchange:
DEAR SIR-That the specimen of jute
which was sent you attracted SO much
attention on Change is very gratifying
fact. Ever since my visit to India in
1872 the culture of jute in the United
States has seemed 20 me TO be practic-
able undertaking. The possibility OF
introducing an industry whose annua,
product whould stand next to cotton in
tibrous Importance is an agricultural
problem of the highest moment. The
observed conditions of growth in India
are almost Identical with those that ex-
list in our Southern states. Ii is probable
that Texas alone contains larger area
suitable for the cultivation of jute than
which in India is now yielding annually
one hundred million dollars worth OF
jute. The fibre has high textile value.
Its range of uses is almost ilimitabe.
1T enters into vast variety of fabrics,
from the coarsest cotton baillng and gun
ny bags to the finest broadcloth and
satin. Last spring Mr.. lie Dlc, United
States commissioner of agriculture,
kindly sent me several packages of jute
seed. Some Of ii was distributed in the
South and some was sent to riends in
the city and neigh borhood of St. Louis.
The seed given to Mr.. Henry Shaw re.
ceiyed no special care. 1t was entrusted
wholly TO the custody OF nature. The
plants were not even watered, but they
grew to height of several feet and bore
seed. The specimen of jute which was
exhibited on Change day before yester-
day was raised by Prof. jerks of WASH
ington University. The following note
explains the circumstances of its
growth
"OCr %, 1880.
"The jute seed which YOU gave me was
sown about the goth of May in compost
of earth, coal, ashes and horse manure
in a corner OF my backyard which was
shaded by high fence nearly half OF
the day. conditions certainly not favor.
able to the fullest development of the
plant. The ground was kept well wa
tered. This specimen lad attained a
height of six feet three inches before the
first Of October.
JNo ii. JENKs, l4lS 0Fallon st.
Nothing but failure was anticipated
from the trials in this latitude. The cli-
mate of 81. Louis Is too cold for lute. 4 he
experiments were tried with the hopeless
motive Of testing the hardness OF tho
plant. The result Is an agreeable sur
prise. Its vigorous growth under cir
cumstances SO different from the condi-
tions of its nativity is very favorable
augury for the successful cllture OF jute
in the Gulf states. A Southern corre-
spondent assures me that he can RAISE
jute on his plantation just as easily as he
can raise corn. The recent experiments
being successful, the possibility of nat
uralizing this plant i'll the United States
is now affirm itively settled. But Ameri-
can hands cannot compete with the cheap
manual labor of India In order TO de-
rive from this new industry yearly re-
turn Of scores of millions the inventive
genus of our countrymen must first de-
wise some cheap mechanical or chemical
means OF disintergrating the fibre.
Respectfully yours,
S. WATERHoUsE.
The Merchants Exchange directors,
after considering the subject, adopted a
resolution reciting that they had noticed
with great satisfaction the experiment
of Prof. Warehouse in introducing the
culture of iute in this country, and that
fro.n the results obtained 1t is evident
that jute can be successfully raised in the
Gulf states, and the board recommended
the letter of Prof Waterhouse to the
careful consideration OF planters and