The Penn's Grove record., 1882-03-25
Agricultural.
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Agricultural.
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ne Coming Rival Of Cotton as staple
croD-Its Habits, History ana capAolIl-
nss-Hev It has been and may Be crown
In tbs South.
The jute is q native Of india, where
It has been cultivated for ages ON ac-
count Of Its fibre, which is the cheap
est known to commerce.
The "jute butts" Of commerce are
from the bark OF that portion OF the
plant growing next TO the ground
and are cut about eighteen inches long.
From this coarser product Is woven
the Tagging with which is envelopeo
not only the cotton bales made in
the South, but most Of the agricultural
products of the world.
The fibre Of the upper portion OF
the stem ia finer, becoming near the
top soft and lustrous like silk, and re-
msrkably strong.
The fibre blsaches readily and takes
color well.
In manufacturing, it Is substituted
for or mixed with hair, wool, silk,
cotton and linen. 1t Ia to this mixture
ofthe jute fibre that is due the great
reduction of prices in dress goods
within the last few years.
1t is stated In q recent number OF
the New York Cotton" that ten yesrs
since the United States paid for goods,
composed in whole or part of jute,
over 800, oOo, 900.
The Cultivation
In India consists of a thorough pre-
paration of the land as for VIII. at.
The seed, which are about the size Of
turnip seed, are sown broadcast and
narrowed or brushed in, and there is
no more work necessary until the
plant ia ready to be out. The proper
time for cutting is indicated by the
bloom, which will appear In two and
half months. The fibre ia at that
time best, and becomes harsh II the
plant Ii allowed to stand until the
seed rfpen.
1t ia stated In the United States
Agricultural Reports that the yield Of
juts fibre per acre In India IL eight
times that of cotton on the same
quality Of land, and that the average
height of the plant on good land is six
or v feet, and that as early as 1874
India exported more than 100. 900, 600
pounds Of jats fibre.
The Preparation
Of the fibre in India is very simple.
The stalks are bound In bundles and
thrown in bayous, where they are
allowed to remain . week, when the
nbre is shaken from the stem, washed
and dried in the sun, and Is ready for
use or market.
Juts Planting in the South.
Reports Of practical farmers estab-
lish the fact beyond doubt that the
soil sna climate of the South are emf
nently suited to the cultivation of the
plant. Indeed, the reports from all
the cotton States indicate that 1t
fiouIishes in any soil which will grow
cotton.
The long tap root Of the jute renders
ita valuable rotation crop with sugar
cane or any of the cereals. 1t is not
an exhaustive crop, and it is believed
that it will improve stiff lands by
bringing up plant food from the sub
soil with its penetrating roots, which
remain in the ground after cutting,
decay rapidly, and fertilize the sue
ceeding crop.
Unlike other crops, 1t Is not molested
by the numerous worms and insects
which destroy the young plants as
soon as they sprout. Indeed, there is
no animal which will eat the iute,
and it Is less subject to disease and
unfavorable weather than any crop
grown in the South.
1t Ia also claimed by those who have
planted it in the vicinity of cotton
that its rank odor drove away insects
d~estructiye 10 the crop.
There are other reasons which make
lutte a valuable adjunct to the culture
of southern products.
Planted on the LIST of April in this
climate it will be ready to cut from
the middle of June to tie Isl of July.
Another crop al be sown upon the
same land, which will be ready for
harvest by tine lat of October.
It will be seen that the first crop
will be taken OF at the season when
cotton and sugar are laid by, and there
IL no urgent work upon the planta-
ton.
Tho Yield
ofjute upon our alluvial lands 10 esti-
mated at from 2,0O0 TO 1000 pounds of
fibre per acre. The price of 'jute
butts" 10 from four to six cents. The
finer 6bre, from the upper portion of
the stalk, sells much higher. After
thorough preparation, the work of
cultivation Is nothing, az the seed
come up in forty-eight hours and the
plants grow SO rapidly as to over
shadow and smother grass and weeds.
Preparation Of Fibre.
Ar. B. Laplace, an enterprising
sugar planter Of Louisiana, recon-
mends that the fibre be prepared by
crushing the stems between the rollers
Of the sugar-mill-this separates the
bark-and sleeping in the water-tank,
pond or bayou, a week, until fermen-