Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1881-07-20
RAISING JUTE,
The AieIhed eiIitai-iag,iihe Profitable VI
berin the souihern states,

The NisIhod oiIitaising,Iihe Profitable W.
ber,in the souihern states,
A New Orleans correspondent Of tho
New York Sun sends 10 that paper an
account OF tho proposed intro luetlon
OF jute culture In the South, subject
which will interest farmers and others
everywhere. The writer says Tho
Southern planter h beginning TO realize
that II IL we'll. when the main crop falls
cotton, sugar, or whatever II may DO
to have supplementary crop, A
great many plantations have this spring
been seeded with two or three diiier'
ent crops, These crops consist OF corn,
melons, rico. potatoes, red oats, iute,
sorghum, and other vegetables. which
find ready market, The early potato
crop h followed by pea crop on the
same ground. The pea vines are cut In
August, and then q second crop OF po'
tatoes is put In which IL dug before the
first frost, whom the ground is sown In
rcd oats or some kind Of grass for win
tor pasture, The second crop OF poia-
toes command good price, on they are
much priced for seed
The manner Of cultimting the most
Of these crops IL well,known, but We
find that jute IL taking an important
place In the attention OF the planter,
and also that many are asking for inior'
nation as TO tho manner OF planting,
caltivating and preparing II for the mill,
With tho hope Of beneiiting those who
wish TO begin the culture OF this plant,
the following outline OF tho method OF
cultivation used by regular jute grow
ers Is given; also the manner OF sepa-
rating tho fiber from the stalks. both OF
which are exceedingly simple; II is i'm
portant TO observe the kind OF land upon
which II will grow, and also to know
what land produces the best crop. II
can be cultivated on high lands or low
lands, wet lands or dry lands, as well as
on alluvial soil. North OF Florida on
tho Atlantic coast experiments have
proved that il attains its best growth on
well.drained low and medium lands, and
also does we'll on inland swamp lands
and river bottoms. After the plant has
grown for a few months it is not injured
by overhows so long as its heads are
not covered with water. Generally, in
India its best growth is obtained on
high lands. The best soils are clay and
! sand mixed, sandy alluvial deposits,
and loamy sand. Our soils therefore are
suited to the best growth Of the plant.
The planting is cone from early in
April to late in June; the further north
the earlier it should be planted, rs it
never should be frosted. The danger from
frost, however, only concerns seed.
Uute as fiber crop is ready to cut in
four months after planting. Seed jute
should DO planted in drills early, so
that the seed has time to mature. If
sown during this month in the Gulf
States the seed will mature before the
killing frosts come.
When intended for the fiber the seed
is sown broadcast, and as the plants
should stand about six inches apart, only
about fifteen or twenty pounds OF seed
are sOwn to the acre. 1T Is better 10
SOW before or Just after shower, and
then harrow the seed in or brush it in
as the Northern farmers do with turnips.
II can also be planted by machinery.
No work need be done from the time
of sowing to the time Of cutting, except
during the first month to weed and thin
out the plants Some recommend har-
rowing the young plant.
The stalks should be cut close to the
ground, when in bloom, which time is
about three and one-half or four months
after planting. 1t may be moved with
moving machine. When it has been
cut the first thing to do is to remove
the leaves. This is done by piling it
up and leaving it in the field for forty
eight hours, when the leaves drop of.
Then it is made into bundles, each con.
tanning about one hundred stalks, and
tied with another stalk.
Next it must be watered. The bundles
are submerged in ponds or running
streams, and kept there for five or tif-
teen days, as the stalks may require.
The fiber is more easily taken off if cut
as soon as it is in bloom. When left
longer it is tough and must be watered
longer. 1t takes longer to water in a
running stream, but q brighter fiber is
thus secured. BY examining from day
to day the planter can easily discover
when the fiber is completely separated
from the stem. and then by binding the
stalks about foot from the top they
are broken. Then by allowing the
stalks to float on the water. and
by giving them sudden jerk by
the tops, which are still held in the
hand, the fiber is stripped entirely
from the wood. Then, still holding the
tops and slashing the water with the
fibers, they are cleaned of all dirt and
loose particles by the operator drawing
the bunch quickly toward him after
having "smitten the waters" When
cleansed the fiber is hung up for two or
three days to dry, and it is then baled
and sent to the mill. Sometimes the
fiber is stripped by catching the butt OF
the stalk and jerking it ont.
An acre will produce from 600 to
4,sOO pounds, according to climate, soil
and cultivation. The best planters
pulverize the soil very fine. -Four or
five plowings make it better.
A large jute mill is to be built here
inside OF seven months to work up this
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