The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-10-03
sroNEvILIJ,. MIss.. sept. q. Iss.

SroSEvILLr, Mss, Sept. @, 1883.
MAJ. E. @. Wall, Jackson, Miss:
DEAR SIR: As a result Of the deliber-
ations Of the Jute Convention held at
Jackson last January, a determination
was had to form a company for the
purpose of testing the Jute question,
and more particularly with reference to
the adaptability and capacity of Mr.. I.
Albee Smiths late invention as an econ
mizer in handling and preparing for
market home grown Jute. The adapta-
bility of our soil and climate having
long since been ascertained beyond doubt
Carrying out that idea the Delta Jnte
and Fiber company was found and
regularly incorporated. This company
became the proprietors of the Smith
Machine in the United States. Desir-
ing to make a thorough test, a quantity
OF Jute seed was ordered from India
and in due season quite an extensive
planting made Of seed broadcast, for
working through the machine and for
market, also fair portion Of land
planted in drills and cultivated for
seed.
None Of tie gentlemen engaged in
this enterprise had any experience in
growing Jute, hence could only be guided
BY the advice and experience Of others.
Which was judged 10 he a just guide
and yielded to, without question. Our
experience however this season has
tUaght US that unless in exceptional caess
broadcast seeding is unreliable and
hazardous, as our experiment has fallen
far short OF our expectations, in fact has
failed. Whilst that seeded in drills has
done remarkably well attaining n height
Os u feet although it only received cul-
tivation TO check the growth Of grass
and weeds until the ,Iuie could acquire
the height of one or two feet when it
could take care of itself.
In the meantime we have had a ma
chine constructed under Mr.. Smiths
supervision, and have now had it on my
place in successful operation for about
two weeks. Many practical planters
have witnessed its working, all expressed
themselves as entirely satisfied with its
ability to do all claimed for it. viz: The
separation of piths from fibre of green
stalks just from the field, and preparing
the fibre for working, without the enor-
nous labor of placing whole stalks in
the water to be afterwards removed by
hand and stripped of the fibre. (The
Indian method) which renders it with
us too laborious and expensive to be
thought Of as a crop
We have now large quantity about
ready for shipment, which we shall send
at once to one Of the Bagging Mills in
st. Louis, at their own request to be
made into bagging for exhibition at the
approaching Fair.
1t IS our design, after our operations
for the season are through with, t0place
our experience and the results obtained
with all facts entirely unvarnished. be-
fore the people of the South, particu-
larly our own people of Mississippi to
the end that they may Judge for them
selves as to the merits of Jute as crop
for profit. We shall do all in our power
to advance this industry and afford every
facility to those who may wish to EN-
bark in it to cover so limited an extent.
! will send You specimen of Jute pre-
pared from green stalks by the machine. |
Very truly,
W. W. STONE.
n. B.-Would be more than glad to
have you and all others interested to
visit us and see the machine in opera
ton any time during the next two or
three weeks.