The Florida agriculturist., 1881-04-20
S93:!
Y 800
A New Industry for the South.
ne Southern Planter and Farmer.

f. M. Elphlnstone, OF w est FONT,
Va, at the late Agricultural Fair,
we wish to bring before our readers
the Importance Of Jhe culture OF
those fibrous plants upon the future
economic and industrial resources OF
the South. When our planters and
farmers once fully realize the i'm
mense quantities of the jute and IA
mine fibers that are consumed annu'
ally in the markets of the world and
when they once fully comprehend
that they can grow these products as
profitable crop, we are convinced
that a truly great and valuable ~
dustry will be established among us,
developing our resources, and adding
wealth to our citizens. That our
planters may know what is in their
easy grasp, we propose to give them
some information regarding the ma
ture OF these fbrous plants, their
growth and culture, ana the wide
range of utility which the tibres pos
sess.
The jute plant (corch~rts capsule
Il
grown in immense quantities. both for
home consumption and for export. 1t
is estimated that there are 100000
acres cultivated in jute each year in
India, employing l,35O,0OO persons
in it's culture, and in the manufacture
OF gunny bags, sacks, etc. This area
is augmented each year at rapid
ratio, owing to the increasing demand
for the fibre. The jute is an annual
plant, and the seed Is sown broadcast |
in April or May, and natures its
growth in three to tour months,
reaching height of ten or twelve
feet. 1t is grown in all sorts OF soil,
but succeeds best in we'll titled loan
inclined to be moist; in fact, any
piece of land which is suitable tor
corn will do well for .jnte: and,
as with other crops, the higher
the cultivation the greater
will be the yield. Mr.. Elphinstone
finds that the best method of cultiva-
ton is to plow the land number OF !
times during the winter, and to APP |
ply manure and fertilizers where the
ground is not rich, and at about the
time ior corn planting to sow the
seed with drills, i'll rows about fifteen
inches apart, using six to eight
pounds OF seed to the acre. After
ne seed is sown, there is nothing
more to do; the crop is left alone
like wheat until the time OF harvest
The time for cutting the stalks is just
after the plants have tlowered the
stalks are then still green, and the
fibre is fine, white, strong and glossy;
if left until the seed natures, the
bark becomes brown, and the fibre is
stained yelloWsh tan color, IS
coarser, and has less strength and
gloss The yield per acre is between
ten and twenty tons OF stalks (strip-
ped OF their leaves) according TO the
vigor OF the growth, and this is, of
course, dependent upon the quality
of the soil. In India the fibre is ob
taned by sleeping the stalks in stag
nant wafer Tor about two weeks, and
the stalks are watched closely until
the fermentation has disintergrated
the bark and wood from the fibre;
the natives they enter the water, and
by a hand process OF beating, thrash
ing and washing, obtain the clean
fibre; it is then spread upon the
ground TO dry, and afterwards baled
tor shipment This hand labor is a
tedious and laborious process, and is
the main reason why jute culture has
not been heretofore undertaken in
the United States. Mr.. Elphistone is
associated with and represents gentle
men from New Jersey, who possess
mechanical process 1or obtaining
the fibre from the green stalks.
Their plan OF operation is To select
several available locations in different
sections of the South, and at central
points, here and there, TO establish
mills Tor the decortication of the ute
stalks, and they will engage TO pur-
chase from the planters around about
these central points the jute stalks at
such price as will pay the planter
as well, if not better, than any other
crop he can raise. They have al.
ready determined to locate one Of
their mills at West Point, Virginia,
and, we are pleased to learn, have
been met with the right kind OF en-
couragement from the farmers i'll that
section. A few facts with reference
to the amount OF jute fibre consumed
Will not only be Interesting but sug-
gestlve OF the Importance Of encourag.
my aud fostering this new industry
in the South There is annually i'm