The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1885-10-17
HEMP, FLAX, JUTE AND RAMIE.

vatable in Kentucky and States IN
ATTITUDES above, although we are
firmly of the opinion that it could be
raised with profit in most of the
southern States. However. it is
mainly to the consideration of jute
and ramie that We propose to devote
this article.
1t is a fact universally conceded
that the crying need in Louisiana is
a diversity of products Of the farm;
aud. in all the wide range of staple
crops, we believe jute and ramie
especially the latter is destined at
no late day to take its place as the
successful rival of King Cotton, that
capricious, arbitrary aud mistaken
ruler of the fortunes Of southern
planters. Of late we have seen sew
eral articles of interest on this SUBJ
ject, from which we gather the fact
that q company has already been
formed in New York, with Hon. E
John Ellis az it's president. composed
of men of influence and great capital,
who recognize in ramie cultivation
the development of an industry fully
equal to that of boastful King Cotton.
This company is called the "Inter-
national Fiber Co. of New York, !"
and it is prepared to give information
and furnish seeds and roots to those
desiring to engage in the cultivation
of ramie. They also advertise the
fact that they will pay eight cents
pound for all that can be produced.
When it ia considered that an acre
will produce ten tons of stalks at
cutting, and that it may be cut three,
four. and even five times a year, and
about 8 per cent of fiber is obtainsble,
giving $12O, $160, and 5000 to the acre,
it's value can be appreciated. This.
too, be it remembered, is obtained
from crop that needs no replanting
after the first season. Our readers
will please bear in mind that these
figures are not guess work, but rep
resent results already attained in this
Stale, and which it is claimed can be
improved upon.
The only drawback to the cultiva-
ton of ramie is overflow. *Water
must not be allowed to stand in the ro,cs
Of The plant The sandy alluvial soil
of Grant parish is peculiarly favora-
BILE to the cultivation of ramie, being
nearly all aboue the hiyhest ouert1oirs,
and we'll adapted to perfect system
Of drainage by bitches. Capt. q. c.
Nash of this town informs us that be
proposes to give it trial next year,
and we sincerely hope others will do
likewise. Little can be done except
by concert Of action, and a dozen Of
our farmers should try two or three
acres at the same time. There will
be no trouble in disposing of all that
can be raised. 1t Is estimated TINT
the cost of machine to prepare $50
acres of ramie for the market will he
about $200O. One machine can be
made to answer for an entire neigh
borhood, rs is now frequently done
in ginning cotton.
There are many false impressions
relative to the cultivation of ibrous
plants, among them being the idea
that it impoverisbes the land, and
that the fiber cannot be prepared
cheap enough for profitable market
ing. Both of these ideas are wrong
Next week We will give our readers a
number of interesting facts relative
to the culture, preparation, etc OF
iute aud ranIie. In the mean time it
would be well for those INTERESTED iu
the subject to write to Hon. l. j.
Ellis for such Information as We may
fail to impart.
sNoTE. - The U. 8. Agricultural Reports and
the statements of newspaper correspondents dis
agree as to whether standing water or overflow
Injuries ramie. We give preference to the Agri-
cultural Reports as being most authentic.
At the time the duty was removed
quinine was worth s. 40 an -ouuc-
L. has fallen since to seventy CENTS