Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-11-16
The Cultivation of Juti-A New In
dustrY for the South.

The Cultivation of Juti-A New In
dustry for the South.
We had the pleasure Of meeting in his
rooms in the Pulaski House, this city,
on Tuesday last, Mr.. G. Menelas, of New
Orleans, gentleman alluded to few
days ago in the MORNING News as
deeply interested in the production of
jute in this country, and practicing what
he breaches by cultivsting it on his own
plantation at Brookhaven, Mississippi.
Mr. Menelas is a Greek by nativity, an
Englishman by adoption and education,
and an American by his admiration of
this great country. Possessing a high
order of intelligence and business ca
pacity, he was early employed in con-
nection with several large business
houses in England and America, Travelled
extensively in all parts of the world, and
is now located in Savannah for the sea
son. His observation and experience,
especially during his travels in this
country, and several years residence on
the lower Mississippi, have made him
something of an enthusiast on the sub
ject of agriculture, but no more so than
they would make any other intelligent
foreigner who should have the grand
possibilities of this mighty empire break
In upon his sensibilities.
Becoming thor oughly acquainted with
the cultivation, manufacture, uses and
distribution Of jute during his residence
in India. where it is produced and
handled on a grand scale, Mr.. Menelas
was struck with the adaptabilitY CT this
country to the production of q fibre
growing in demand so rapidly all over
the world, and determined on its intro
duction. He accordingly purchased the
plantation above alluded to, where, with
the spirit of a true lover of agriculture,
he has for several years been surprising
those who visited the locality with his
exhibitions of the productive capacity of
the soil and climate. He has shown that
the China tea and India jute can both be
successfully grown in Mississippi and
throughout the Southern States, and car
ries about with him for inspection sam
pies of the latter, grown on his own plan
tation, well calculated to put an end to
all doubt on that subject.
The only question raised in reference
to the cultivation of jute in this country
after its introduction and test was ma :
chinery for putting the fibre in market
able condition, and this difficulty has re-
Gently been obviated. as clearly shown
by Mr.. Menelas in his own statements,
and in authentic letters referring to ma
chinery already in operation in the manu-
facture of the article on the Mississippi.
The difficulty, however, was more appa-
rent than real, for it has been shown that
the cultivation of jute in this country
does not depend upon machinery for
putting 1t in marketable condition.
AS seen by inspection of the samples
exhibited by Mr. Meuelas, the highest
perfection of jute fibre, ready prepared
for the looms, is obtained by cutting
the green iute and soaking it in water
for ten or twelve days, when the bark
or fibre may be striped off clear of the
woody substance and gum or slime of
the outside coating of the plants. This
| leaves the fibre of a rich flaxen hue, but
whittier, smooth and glossy, to com
mand the highest market price.
This simple operation may be performed
very readily by the most inexpert hands,
aud considering that one acre of our
ordinary lands will yield in 1ute the
value Of bale of good cotton, and the
plant can be gathered, shipped, sold and
the money be in pocket between
April 1st and July 30.h, it is an in
dustry which at once recommends itself
to the Southern people, and especially
to the colored population, whose situa-
ton and habits peculiarly adapt them to
its profitable cultivation. In a fu ure
article more particular reference will be
made to the cultivation, use aud advan
tages of the introduction Of jute into the
South.