Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-06-22
Louisiana MOSS.
New Orleans PieaYune.

NoW OElodus
As the best qualities and the largest
quantities are found in cypre 8
swamps, and generally on the tallest
trees, unless the moss clinging to these
be detached and thrown to the ground
by wind storms, the usual and easiest
method is to Tell the trees, when all
the moss can with facility and rapidity
be removed. When first gathered
from the tree, it is Of light grayish or
lead color, and in that condition not
marketable-thtrefor not shipped
Before this can be done, it is made
to undergo a rotting or curing pro-
cess, by which what is known and
termed the bark Of the moss fiber is
removed. This process requires from
thirty to forty days and is effected by
depositing the green moss in wet
bitches or trench es, where a flow OF
water over and through the moss
was secured. Subsequently, when the
bark has been removed and the moss
has assumed black glossy color, it is
exposed to the sun, thoroughly dried,
then baled and shipped to New Or
leans, where other treatment awaits
it.
1t must be understood that there
are grades and classifications in moss,
as in other articles of commerce, and
that they are adopted aud recognized
as standards of type in the market
and by the trade. These classifcations
are four in number, ranging from No.
| to No. 4, the latter being the
highest type. When moss reaches
New Orleans, it is sent to the
faatary, where it is unbaled and
picked, so as 70 separate the various
types which may be ia one bale, and
after culling and immersion in baths,
where it is thoroughly oleansed, it is
exposed to air and sun to be dried
after passing through the picking,
washing gpd drying process, it is then
passed thT6Hgli the poss gin, each
quality OF type separately, and thus
bales, when it. is ready for shipment.
AT this stage the classiacations are
again changed. The former, No. to
No, 4. applying to moss as it reaches
"a, city, while after undergoing the
several processes AZ the factory it be-
comes known as wssh 40. 10 no. q
the No. 4 being tcohnicslly known as
vegetable hair, the highest grade oi
which sells at the rate OF Ia cents pei
pOuad,
There are at pFSSept in New Or.
leans three of these factories or moss
cleaning establishments, each handling
and manipulating daily fifty to sixty
bales Of the articles, and total dur
ing the yeaS of thirty to forty thou
sand bales. They enploy together
about one hundred laborers, male and
female, paying weekly wages ranginl
from FIVE to ten dollars. There is NJ
reason whatever why the receipts al
New Orleans should not be one hun
dred thousand bales. With that in
crease there would be no glut, as the
demand will keep step with the in
crease and development Of the indus,
tries which utilize and absorb it. The
swamps and forests Of Louisiana eau
furnish any supply for generations to
come. One parish alone, that of La.
fourche, is capable of an annual yield
of twenty thousand bales if the proper
energy and labor be applied.
1t is estimated that an active am
able bodied man in chosen locality,
can gather daily of green moss what
will make, when cured and dried, ont
hundred pounds, worth at current
prices from So to $4, according to type,
which after deductions for ballng
freight, etc , will yield return Of
50 so to So for each days work. With
these inducements, and the additional
one that little or no capital is
needed, there is no reason why
during the idle months preced.
ing the cotton picking season all
hands, particularly in parishes which
suffered most and longest from the
overflow, should not turn out in force
aud set themselves to moss gathering
The swamps are full of the material,
aud the overflow has contributed to
eure-aud that is the best curiug--all
the moss which was on the ground
All that is to be done is to gather and
dry it. What can thus be collected
and sent TO market will contribute
somewhat to make good the losses sus
tanned from inundation, and will 60
far toward paying for the cotton bags
,;no a,J othnr AL pooosaitias of u n