The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-12-08
farm aud Gardem.
Lutte [Coroorus Capsularisl.
For the Central Presbyterian.

and other articles from the fibre. is a new
industry inaugurated in Virginia, and
PROMISES to be of great value Expert
ments recently made by NJ F. Elphin-
stone, formerly of Scotland, now of King
William comfy, Va, in conjunction With
Capt. r. E. Lee, on his farm near West
j Point, on very considerable scale, seem
to prove the great suitability of the eli
mate and soil to the production of iute
The plants and fibre, and articles manu-
featured from them, were exhibited at
our late State Fair, (Which we omitted
in our former article on the things OF
interest at the fair), and attracted much
attention The growth was lnxuriant,
eight feet high, and the fibre of good
length, and excellent quality. AS we are
informed, machinery of recent invention
has been applied to jute manufacture.
which does away with the tedious and
troublesome process of rotting, which was
formerly considered necessary for jute (as
well as hemp and flax
Jute is native of Asia, and is raised
in the East Indias, Syria, and Egypt,
and about the shores of the Mediter-
ranean generally. 1t is now raised in
California successfully, and in some of
the Southern States, we think. AS far
back as 1878 there were $4,5OO,OOO in
value of it imported into the United
States. 1t is used in mixing with silk
and cotton fabrics, for coarse cloth.
burlaps, mating, and cheap carpeting,
and at one time when they were in fash
ion, it was made into "Chignons" or
"Switches" in imitation of ladies hair.
but its chief use is for the manufacture of
Gunny Bags" 1t is quite different
from Ramey (Boehmeria Nivea) which is
perennial, while jute is annual. The for
mer is confined to warmer latitudes
and is used for finer fabrics, admixture
with silks, etc. At one time there was
fever for raising ramey in our South
ern States as a profitable substitute for
the cotton crop, but after it was raised
there were no factories to utilize it, and
besides 1T did not pay to pick it up with
the hands as the Chinese do. There is
another variety of Jute, Corchorus Oil
torlus, or Mallow, but the first variety
is, we think, mostly raised.
Jute is also much used for baling cot
ton, each bale requiring seven yards, so
that this gives rise to an extensive de-
mand Tor st. 1t does not stand exposure
u TIE weather well, hence it is not suited
for cordage, but IS worked up to some ex-
tent with hemp. In Inc East the butts
tor nine or ten inches, are used for max
ing paper, and the stems for manufacture
of coarse baskets.
An Intelligent Scotch merchant of
Richmond, Mr. w. S. Donnan, informs
us that the town of Dundee in Scotland
has been made rich by Jute manufac
lures, the raw material being imported
from the East If Dundee has been thus en-
rlched, why may not Richmond, and other
Virginia town be similarly benefited &?
And If jute can be successfully grown in
the State, as it seems it may be, with the
raw material at our very door, what is
to hinder its manufacture from becoming
a great interest?
There are some varieties of lutte native
to Virginia, but we are not sufficiently ac
quainted with them to describe them. or
to estimate their value.
The RAILROADS OF THE UNITED STATES:
Their Effects on Farming, and Produc-
ton In that country and in Great Bri-
tain. By Edward Atkinson.
We have received the above through
the kindness of John OFT, Esq, Secretary
Southern Fertilizing Company. 1t is from
the pen Of we'll known writer and sta
tlslclan OF Boston, appearing first in the
,Fort1'ghtIy Re05e,O of England. Mr.. At
.kinson says, CAS- right understanding
OF the true effects and results of Western
competition in the production of grain
and meat may become Of the greatest i'm
portance in the settlement Of the grave
questions in reference to the land tenure.
now pending in Great Britain, it may not
be unsuitable for an American to submit
some considerations on the great changes
that have been brought about in the
eastern United States by construction of
railroads to the West" He contends that
the cheap products Of the West have not,
and will not impair the value of lands in
the East-that the art of agriculture has
Of recent years made great advance in the
Eastern States, in respect to the methods
OF work, and in variety of products, and
IN some sections of these States there has
also been considerable increase in the
value OF agricultural products, which has
been promoted by the changed relations
OF the two sections, growing out of the
railway system-that like effects will be
produced in Great Britain by the unre-
stricted action Of the same causes-that
by the action of the modern railway and