The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1880-01-28

not Delng properly formed, whlle the
loss in the fall and winter does not
excede one-third of the gathering.
Much difficulty is experienced by
those engaged in the business OF col
Letting the moss, as they have either
to climb the trees or cut them down;
and, whenever the quantity obtalna-
BILE would justify it, the latter course
has been adopted. Hooks and rakes
have been .unsuccessfully tested, as
they failed to detach the best portion
OF the moss, Chat growing nearest
the limb) and consequently dimin-
iished what they gathered in quantity
and value.
\ There is also much trouble caused
by predatory negroes, who avail
themselves Of every opportunity to
carry off the moss that has been
picked. Its bulky character, COM
pels it's collection IN pile, adjacent to
the trees from which il has been ia
ken, and it is not always practicable
to properly guard it. as the pile has
to remain undisturbed for a certain
length of time, to effect the curing
of the moss by fermentation.
~ Other processes besides the nat
ural have been used to ierment and
cure the moss, such as scalding wa
ter, lime water, burying it in the mud,
etc. The last two, however, have
been abandoned.
Mr.. Charles Delamarre, of this
city, in 1875, took out a patent tor
curing moss in three days, which elic-
tied from the New Orleans Times,
several very complimentary and en-.
couraging notices. His process con-
sisted OF one pound OF carbonate of
soda, dissolved in five gallons of boil
ing water, sleeping the green moss
in the mixture, until the bark became
soft and detached from the fibre,
then passing it between wooden roll
lers, to crush the softened bark, and,
finally, after thoroughly washing the
fiber, drying it where the wind could
dispose of the remaining dust. Be-
fore shipment, the moss was passed
through gin, or cleaning machine.
This establishment was started at
Morgan City, but the capital invested
in it being very limited, it closed,
Notwithstanding the interest it had
created by its favorable results.
The moss thus prepared was sold
to Messrs. Herma;S land Vignes, of
this city. from 7 to 3 cents per pound.
The following are the present
prices per pound, for moss received
from the country, viz: grey mixed,
from u to 24 cents grey and brown
mixed, from q to 8cents; brown
and black mixed, from 8 to 81 cents !;
and black, from 81 to Al cents the
prices ranging from a half to one cent
per pound higher than they were last
Year.
The country moss is packed in halt
bales, weighing not more than one
hundred and fifty pounds each, SO as
to enable purchasers to thoroughly
examine them. The moss after
reaching the city, is repicked and re-
packed in similar sized bales for do
mestic and foreign markets.
After passing through the various
processes necessary, to put the moss
in marketable condition, it is sorted
| by experienced hands. generally fe.
males) into four different classes,
which are designated and known III
the trade as x, Xxx, xxx and
xxx, the last being the finest ar
ticle and looking much like horse
hair. M (.
The appearance and value of the
moss is much enhanced by dyeing,
or staining it, which gives it, fine
blue black color, and makes it resem-
BILE hair. satr X.
The imtermixture of hog hair,
with horse hair, has considerably
affected the Louisiana moss business |;
which, combined with general finan.
cial embarrassment, caused many OF
the factories to close their business.
The, European demand two years
back was considerable, but has been
of late much reduced, and the prici-
pal consumption at the present time
is in the northern, eastern and west
ern markets of our own country.
The general opinion is that Louisi-
ana moss, in the future, will partici-
pate in the general advance OF other
American products, and that the diff
ferent grades will command higher
prices this, however, will much de-
pend upon the condition in which it