Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-12-18
THE CULTURE OF JUTE.

HOSpltaIs nOBEKT W. LOST.
THE CULTURE OF JUTE.
The press Of the Southern States is re-
spectfully requested to publish the fol-
lowing letter of Prof. Waterhouse on
jute: Q5i1 siiiIs
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, a
st. Louis, November q, 1880.
To the Editor Of the Democrat: -
Iwish, through the courtesy Of tile
Southern press, to ask those planters to
whom ! sent jute seed last spring to re-
port to me the results Of, their expert
ments The seed was furnished on the
express condition that all the circum,
stances Of its growth should be carefully
1ecorded. The locality, kind Of soil av-s
erage temperature and moisture, amount
Of tillage cost Of cultivation, time Of
planting and cutting, height Of plant
and quality Of fibre, are the main facts
which the report should embrace. tits
believed that the records of these expe-
riments will afford incontestable proof
that Indian jute can be successfully
raised in our Gulf States. An early
compliance with my request will greatly
facilitate efforts which are freely given
to the promotion ofthis important inter
est.
The result Of personal Investigations
in India is positive assurance that In
dian jute can be- naturalized in this
country. There is Q substantial identity
Of conditions. The semi-tropical climate
the moist, alluvial soil and the humid
atmosphere which are essential to the
growth ofjute are found in the Gulf
States as we'll as in India. The land IN
the Gulf States adapted to the growth
of jute is probably far more extensive
than that. which which in India il now
devoted to the culture Of that plant. II,
in the high latitude Of St. Louis, whem
scarcely hope Of it's termination waA
entertained, jute grew this last season
to height gilmore than six feet, tho
probability that it wonld flourish lnxn-
riantly in the States bordering on the
gulf strengthens into q senlblance Of
certainty.
The repetition which seeks to impress
upon the public mind the importance Of
this new industry needs no apology.
Till reiteration incites action, it cannot
be too frequently repeated that among
all the productions NJ India, jute ranks
fourth in Importance. The annual value
of the Indian jute crop cannot be less
than 500, 100000. Nothing is so vital
to the prosperity Of the South as di-
versifcation of it's industries. The ex--
perience of India, where such and enor-
nous productive value has been deyel-
oped, chiefly in the last quarter Of .
century, seems to justify the assumption
that the naturalization of jute in the
South would enrich that region with Il
yearly income OF scores of millions
The hesitancy Of the Southern States to
avail themselves of 50 golden an 0ppor-.
tunity is amazing. a
Not doubt of the easy practicability
Of introducing jute into this country,
fingers in my own mind. All that is now
necessary to the certain success OF the
undertaking Is the invention Of cheap
and rapid means Of disintregating the
fibre. It is indeed astonishing that the
inventive genius of our countrymen
does not address itself to the solution Of
problem that promises such rich re-
wards to success. Possibly the desired
machine has been already invented.
There are now, in this country, four
methods of disengaging the fibre. Speci-
mems prepared by three Of these pro-
cesses have been sent to me.
In each case the fibre was white, uu-
broken and apparently uninjured by it's
treatment. No one of these methods
resorts to the old system OF disintegre-
CATION by water All of the processes
are mechanical or chemical. 1t is claim
ed that the fibre disengaged by these
appliances can in two or three days from
the time Of cutting be ready for the
loom. Bnt if thsee inventions prove de-
tective, either in economy or rapidity of
operation, then American ingenuity must
devise some other means for etfeeting
the object. Assuredly, where the prize
OF success is all opulence that would
satisfy "the dreams of ayariee,' the
American inventor will not allow him-
self to be batffed by superable difficult
ties. III the preparation of the fibre,
nothing but chemical or mechanical