Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1882-04-22
Ramie

Fox n number Of years much attention
mas been paid TO 'ho extracting of the fibre
from the rsnio or rhea plant. While il is
done by hand in China and India, whore
il is made into grass CLOTH" The expense
of this method Of extraction is SO great that
tho tibro does not come into general use.
If the cost of production could be reduced
within certain limits, it is generally conceded
that the fibrc would become one Of the most
valuable articles of commerce in tho world
The Indian department of the Colonial
Government has devoted much attention
TO this subject. Within few years, d. J.
Forbes Wiusow, reporter on the Products
of India, published by authority valuable
treatise on the subject. In this treatise he
says that the fibre of the ramie is strong ger
than TINT of hemp or jute that it will make
the beat kind of cordage; that it may 10
mixed with silk or wool; and that ii is pre-
eminent among fbres for iustre. Large
asis tho consumption of flax, lac says that
the rnmie fibre would supplant it il It could
be produced cheaply.
The klbaJsi3 Zsit,.ng said, IN 1880. they
arc now purchasing ramie whenever they
can got it. Mr.. Legey, civil engineer. saws
that ait is destined to play q great role in
textile industries" Mr.. Potter, the Amer;-
can Consul in Crifeld, Germany. reported
to the United States Government, ia 1850.
that the Ramie 6bro WAS being used as a
substitute for wool that il is made up into
cloths, blankets. fiannels, hosiery, and that
the manufacturers of Germany, France and
Belgium are preparing to introduce it into
re pl, Ia. II,
prevents its general introduction.
In China and Indin. the plant is cut down
and split with knives. The bark is then
pulled off. aud part Of the inside covering
removed The interior part is then taken
ont aud soaked in water, and then dried,
and again soaked in water and dried. The
object is to remove the gummy sub.tanc,
which covers the fibre. This method 81
dressing by hand IS slow and expensive. In
order TO bring the fibre into general use, i
must be treated by mechanical process
raui:e stands to-day where cotton stoot
before Whitney invented the 'gin.''
The Indian Government took deep in
teresi in the matter, and, in 1870, offered
prize of go, 900 for machine which would
prepare the fibre suitably, and at cost o
SIS. per ton of fibre, so long az the price O
Il stood ct $3.50. per ton. Several trial.
were made with different machines, but tn
prize was not awarded to any one. TIL
grea; difficulty in the way was that Englisl
inventors would not 70 cut to india, OWN,
to the great expense Of doing so, nor coul
experiments b made in England, becaus
the fresh ranie plant could not be obtaine
there. The inventors constructed thei
machines without material 10 experiment
with. Tho Tsmie plant grows luIuriantl
in these islands. In no country viii
grow with greater rapidity Four crops
year can be taken of. The plant spring
up from lis roots. II viii grow where ST
gar cane eau no. be cultivated. Instance
are known mere, where the plant has grow
one foot per week. 1t IS especially Gro
which can be cultivated by small farme,
and persons without capital.
The amount of fibre OF marketable valu
obtainable from an acre varies from loo
to 1000 lbs. Ono hundred ponnds of hbl
olant produces about fvs pounds Of fibr
which is worth from $50. to $3.50. per to,
If tho cost Of preparing the fibre is not oy'
SIS. per ton, thero will be profit Of frol
s75. TO sl75. psr ton, or from ssh. TO So
per acre. The continental market wou
take all that could be produced here, eve
if the product reached 10000 tons per al
nun. An industry producing thai amour
of material would rival in value tbs sugT
market.
In 1878, Mr.. G. G.. Colemuu OF this cit
exhibited at the Mechanics Fair, in $,
Francisco, machine invented by him &
the treatment OF Ramio hbre. Ram
grown in California was passed into Il
machine and the product, which was Sc
to England, was fayorably reported ups
and orders given for quantities. But d
machine, az Is usual with all newly inyent
machines, was imperfect. The principle
which il operated was this, that the fib
after passing through rollers was subjec.
70 steam heat, which took ont part Of {
glut:nons substance. Immediately pass
through another act OF rollers which crush
il still more, and through another stea
bath. which extracted more of the Il
tinous matter. Alter passing through sc
errl pairs OF rollers, and through stea
baths, il finally reached tho drying role
aud was in marketable condition. T
work is entirely automatic or mechanic
H. using tbs steam bath, there is a decd
improvement, over any Of the processes nc
known. That Mr.. Coleman has succeed
in inyeniirg the right machine Is siili ,
bsiabie matter. There arc reasons to
l;eye that he has. Oaly, however, by
peated trial. can this DO demonstrat,
There arc certain advantages here in
fact that the inventors, the machine a
the ramie are ia one place. Il will ena
the inventor 10 improve his machine by
tuai experiments. II no succeeds, he v
have created . great industry for the kir
dom. In view CT ths importance of
subject, the Minister Of the Interior is 4
possd to bring the matter before the lee
lAsurs. and rsconmsad IN appropriation
making tr;sls Of the nachins. A 4
tAonssrd dollars sesns jad;ooasy in Z
vav. u;rht b. Of more edvoutoee e