St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1885-09-19

Cline IS 2OO or 3OO Kilograms OF
dry fibre in ten hoars' work.
The rsmie can be decorticated in
the dry state, but this should not
be attempted except in rare cases.
This fact is we'll known to the Chi
nese. as we'll as recognized by the
vendor, as the material decorti-
Gated in the dry state returns but
% per cent, after extracting the
gum, while from that treated in
the green state, 80 to GO per cent.
of pure fibre isobtainsd.
Another reason tor treating the
gre en- stems Of this plant is the in
convenience and expense of drying
the stalks. The ramaie sends ont
about rs stalks per square yard,
varying from 40 to 60 inches in
length. These could not lie stretch
ed without contact on the ground
where they were grown, and it they
could it would interfere with the
growth of the next crop.
The decortication in the green
state is therefore a sine qua non of
the culture of ramis. 1t must pass
directly from the mower to the ma
chine. This is the only practical
process, as viewed from the stand
points Of its agricultural, ecorom-
ical and industrial value.
THE DEcoRTIcATING MACHINE.
Mr. Be.thet, the inventor of the
machine for decortication, or strip
ping of the lieneous covering of the
fibre of the stalks OF the ramie, re-
ceived his first hints in regard to
the machine while studying in
Mexico the many textiles which
that laxnriant region affords.
Watching the crude and simple
mode by which the natives stripped
the covering from the fiber, he en-
deavored to produce a machine to
perform the work automatically.
This perfect imitation constitutes
the merit of the machine.
This machine is applicable to ra-
mic green and dry, and to all other
textiles. The management of the
machine is simple. Two work-peo-
pie, male or female, can attend it,
and by working ten hours. clean
200 Kilograms of ramie. For this
work the machine requires two
horse power.
SPINNING OF RAMIE.
Ramie arrives in London from
China in bales, like cotton. 1t is
first submitted to process par
italy chemical and me :hanical,
for the purpose of extracting the
resinous matter. This causes a loss
in weight of 30 to 40 per cent. II
is then dried and carded. this oper-
alton, as well as that of spinning
requiring special machines. differ
ing from those in use for other tex
tiles.
The thread of ramie has three
times the resistance of cotton; is as
pliable RS silk. and applicable to a
great variety of uses, such as fine
shifting, strong and glossy; cooler
than cotton, warmer but thinner
than linen; damask table-cloths and
napkins of better appearance than
linen, and giving Il holder relief to
the impressions; bright with all
lights. giving cheerful air to the
table, and this gloss is not lost by
repeated washinss. Material for
dresses, plain and printed, table
and furniture covers; mems wear,
printed and plain; in short, for all
articles and uses where beauty and
strength are desired. The English
manufacture an alpaca of wool and
ramie, far superior TO the alpacas OF
cotton and wool. The great resist.
ance of this fibre adapts it to the
manufacture of sewing-machine
thread.
Mr.. Lasua, of New Orleans, a
French chemist and engineer, who
has had considerable experience in
sugar mills and other kinds of ma.
chinery, is in correspondence with
MIR. Berthet, and has a great many
samples of ramie, in its various
forms, from the raw article to the
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