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

ton with the following interesting
report on Ramie. or China grass:
The interest manifested in this
plant and its products seemed to
justify me in deyoting much time
and attention to a closer investiga-
ton of everything connected with
it. The following information is,
therefore, derived from personal
observation of the plant and study
of its requirements, an examina-
ton OF the machines for decortica-
ton, the chemical and mechanical
processes for extracting the resin
GUS matter, the carding, spinning
and weaving, and handling the
fabrics. consulting with inventors
of the machinery, manufacturers
and merchants, as we'll as availing
myself of the written opinion OF
scie Ltiic men and statisticians.
ORIGIN OF RxMIE, OR CHINA GRASS,
The ramie, or China grass, far
from being a new discovery, dates
back to an unknown period. 1t is
of the nettle gems, long cultivated
and utilized by the Chinese in the
preparation of tissues celebrated
for their 6neness and luster, OF
which little has been known in
Europe and America, except as an
import of a Chinese specially.
The culture of China grass has
often been attempted in Europe,
and as often abandoned, for reasons
which will appear hereafter. Dur.
ing the late internal American war,
its culture was revived rs substi
tute for cotton. The war ended, II
was again neglected.
GROWTH OF CHINA GRASS.
The China grass thrives best in
a warm climate and moist soil, al
though it will produce, less abund
antly, in a more Northern atmos-
phere. The Southern and South
western States, wherever land ans
wering to the above conditions can
be found. would be suited to its
growth, while many portions Of the
Middle, Eastern and Western
States would permit the gathering
OF two crops annually. 1t is a
hardy plant. with wide spreading
roots; once planted, it requires nc
re-seeding for fifteen years, merely
having need Of such attention and
enriching. as a thrifty cultivator
would naturally bestow upon his
crop to maintain and increase its
yield. The ramie can be cut to
some advantage the first year; after
that it assumes its normal condi-
ton, and yields two to four crops,
as climate and soil are more or less
propitious. An average yield at =
cutting, under favorable Circum.
stances, is 100000 stalks to the
hectare GAN acres.) A stalk
weighs. with its leaves in a green
state. 80 grams ( 1000 grams consti
tnte a kilogram or kilo, which latte,
is 2 Is pounds;) when dried it j.
reduced TO IL grams. or. in Other
words, one crop produces $4,000
Kilograms of green stalks, reduced
by stripping of leaves and drying
to 1000 kilograms of dried stalks
The stalks submitted to the ma
chine for decortication, or stripping
of outside covering, give in dry
clean fibre, flee from ligneous par.
ticIes. an industrial material weigh.
ing 1900 Kilograms.
The improved machine is capable
of turning out a large percentage
of net available material.
The established price OF the fibre
is so francs per 100 Kilograms
therefore 1900 kilograms would be
worth $50 francs, and the four an,
nual cuttings would bring 5000
francs, or $579, as the product o.
one hectare. Deductine so pei
cent. for expenses of all kinds. in.
Guiding a liberal allowance for care
full tillage, the net product of foul
crops per year would be 15O(
francs, or $3.50 so per hectare.
The proper time for cutting il
when dry appearance of the stalk
is observable just above the surface