The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-03-30

the Ambition, Rose mallow, and other
similar plants, which can be so easily
raised, would at the present market rates
yield the farmer a profitable return for
his labor We have mentioned before
that Capt. R. E. Lee, of King William.
raised at the rate of about twenty eight
tons per acre of India iute, and that Mr..
Elphinstone who will this year erect
machinery for separating jute, at West
Point, proposes to pay So per ton for it,
as cut from the field This will be more
profitable by far than any other farm
crop now raised in this State. Capt Lee
designs putting in twenty acres of jute
this year. The jute crop of India is now
half million of tons, worth at least $780,
100000. and the cost of the foreign fbres
annually imported into the United States
is more than $30,000OOO The State of
New Jersey, at the last session of its Leg
islature, appropriated $4,000 for the en-
couragement of the production of Amer
lean jute, marsh or rose mallow, ramie.
hemp, and flax Prof Waterhouse OBJ
serves, Zone of the prospective results of
the cultivation OF Ambition avicenne and
ramie would probably be a revival in
the culture Of fax and hemp. Fabrics
| designed for certain commercial uses are
improved by combination of their fbres
with jute, and consequently an extensive
employment Of the one will imply an in
creased demand for the Others The
same machinery which is used for sepa-
rating the fibre ofiute will serve the same
purpose for hemp and flax. Ramie, and
the marsh mallow, with various other
fibre plants are described in the report,
including our garden okra, which makes
a fine fibre. The ramie is perennial, and
three crops are gathered from it in New
Jersey, and four in Louisiana-it would
seem nearly as profitable as jute. Eight
tons are grown to the acre, the price per
ton being $40. Ramie fibre is very beau
tiful, silk-like in appearance, and no
doubt is blended with silk in silk goods,
Experiments in the tenacity of some of
the fibres resulted in common fax break
ing with strain of 80 pounds; India
Jute, SO pounds; English hemp, los
pounds. 1t would be interesting to pur-
sue this subject, but space and time will
not permit.
Farmers Must Protect their Interests
and their Rights.
The Department of Agriculture of Vir-
ginia, as is generally known, is very mad
equately supported. The appropriation
Exclusive OF salaries) is only $4,000. and
with this great number of things are
directed to be done-geologica surveys
OF all the counties, collection of cabinet
of minerals, analyses of fertilizers sold in
the State, printing of reports, and Hand
book of Virginia, Importation and dis
trlbution of seeds, etc. Geological sur
verys are out of the question, for it would
require thirty-fve or forty thousand dol
lars to make these surveys for all the
counties The Commissioner is forced
to make selection of what he thinks
most important and feasible work, and
IS necessarily greatly hampered in his
operations. He can only print five thou
sand of his annual reports, for probably
hundred and fifty or two hundred thou
sand farmers--to be sure not all reading
farmers. In the formation of a cabinet
OF minerals, etc., he has to rely upon vol
untary contributions, while if he had the
means he would send out in the summer
months, an agent to explore every county
IN the State, collect its minerals, and re-
port upon every thing connected with
It's interests. This alone, would be worth
a great many thousands of dollars to the
farmers and the State. He can only an
alyse some of the fertilizers, selecting
those most used. But SO it is, h. has to
struggle along, and to do the best he can
to promote the farmers interest, and con-
sequently the general interest of the
State.
In this connection, he cannot refrain
from mentioning the compensation given
his clerk, which is only 5000 per annum
while clerks in other departments of the
government get more than double this
and the porter in the basement of the
capitol receives 800 to $500 per wear
Farmers, is there any reason uoa11 de-
partment should be thus treated? Is il
Just, is it.fair treatment to the bone and
sinew of the State, to you who are toll
ing to support your government, which
without your aid, would be $50 poor as
none to do it reverence
We have found some "Morus Multi
caulis in the vicinity of Richmond. and
through the kindness of DR.. Mccarthy
have obtained some cuttings for propa-
cation. We have also been offered some
from other portions of the State. The
trees are reported to be in vigorous
healthy state. We shall have something
in Our nayt on fbo a. .