The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1885-09-23
Ramie Culture.
III.

inserted in two recent numbers of the HAWAIIAN
GAZETTE have received pamphlet, dated New
ark IN. j., June lst, 1885, written by an enthu-
siastic friend Of Ramie, Mr.. Felix tremerey, who
has condensed IN a very handy form, several lect-
ures given bv him, this last spring on this import
ant plant 1 am happy to see that all my state
ments are cOrrOborated by Mr.. Fremerey, IN whose
work find moreover, some further information
which think will complete my own articles and
be Of value 10 those Of the readers of the GAZETTE
who may get interested into this the grand culture
of the future,-Rame and the other plants of the
same family. Of UrticayjU.
/ shall first take this occasion for correcting a
typographical error contained IN my last article,
in part where ] had written, that the value of
Chinese Ramle fiber IN London was 20 ton and
not $50 as the compOsitOr made me say, although
the fifty pounds sterling were clearly figured IN
my Portuguese original article. This makes the
price Of ramie come 20 be from 10 to lG cents a
pound, and Mr.. Eremerey says that even at that
price, the importation of Chinese ranle, which
was IN 1865 of 76l6, ,J07 pounds to England alone,
Is now increased more than tenfold; and even
with abundant additions from many other cOun-
tries the supply Is not able TO keep up with the
demand. At present there are in Yorkshire alone,
more than 20 large factories exclusively engaged
N the manufacture OF ramie ber which IS moreover
extensively used by German and French manu-
facturers This IS easily accounted for: the excel
lencles OF ramle are numerous and great; the
strength Of its lamens is superior to that of any
other hber. Jute serves more uses, but ramle
makes better goods The Chinese textile is
wrought into fabrics of rare beauty, It's snowy
whiteness, silky fineness and silyery lustre are
qualities Of the highest excellence; their tenacity
and exemption from the attacks OF insects render
bers of this material very durable laces, plushes
and velvets made of ramio are as lasting as they
are eIquisitiyely beautiful" And these words of
praise of Professor S. WaterhOuse, are crowned by
the exclamation Of French Senator and Cele-
brated national economist, when visiting an ex-
hibitlon of ramie articles: "Ramie is a gold mine y
From these and other proofs abducted by Mr..
Fremerey. of what ramie Is bound to be in the
markets of the world hope that the arricultursts
of our fair Islands will no longer hesitate 10 go
into the culture Of such valuable staple, and
remain Indifferent to the beckonings of the Ha-
waiian Ramie Co.
About the culture of Ramie 1 find several useful
items IN Mr.. Fremerey's lecture. "Swampy sub
soil and hard pan soil not fitted forts culture:
the first would infalby rot the roots and cause the
early death of the plants, while the second would
prevent them from obtaining their natural develop.
ment.' But nevertheless says French authority,
NJ. FRver, without irrigation, no rame.n The
ground for ramie planting must be well plowed at
the depth of at least one foot and thoroughly har
rnwcd. In tropical climates it is best to run the
burrows from east to west in order to prevent the
10 dry out the soil II is proper to try to avoid
the formation of side branches on the plant, which
IS obtained by thick plantation, which has also
another advantage, that of lessenng the formation
of the resinOus matter on the bark of the stem,
and thereby of rendering more easy the separation
of the fiber
said the multiplication of ramie by seed was
not TO be recommended Mr.. Fremery will explain
this:s The seeds of ramie consist Of extremely fine
grains which are very difficult to bring to ger
mlnatlon in the ground The persons who are
obliged 10 adopt that way of propagation must
therefore stratify them in a moderate warmth be-
tween two leaves of blotting paper or wet linen;
as soon as they begin TO germinate, they should
be mixed with times their volume Of wet ground
and sOwed as uniformly as possible" and in order
TO prevent the sun from drying up the earth and
thus Immediately stopping the termination, it is
advisable TO cover the ground with straw or leaves
which are TO be taken away at night for the dew
10 impregnate the soil, which further must be
kept IN a constant state of humidity. "As soon as
the plants make their appearance, the covering
should be removed and the soil be kept fast by
moderate sprinbling, until .he roots are strong
enough to be transplanted to the open field.
The Ramie has two kinds of roots one n top.
root, requiring deeply ploughed soil, the Other
roots are of spreading nature, requiring perfect
narrowing in order to facilitate their extension
In laying out new plantation, the sets have to be
planted alternately, so that the sets of the first
row be in line with those of the 3rd, 9th rows
etc, and those of the 2nd in line with the
4th, 9th, etc"
Propagation by sprouts is made by dividing
the roots of old plants, and here much care must
be taken of the tender sucking roots, which con.
duct the nurture of the soil to the plants; when
sufficient care is taken of not suifocating these
sprouts when covering them with ground, and alsC
of watering them twice day for about fortnight
success Is certain,
Raising ramie by cutting is rather more diff
cult, pieces with two eyes are stuck in the ground
which should be covered With iayer of straw OF
dung, and be kept moist until the plant has taken
root
Mr.. tremerey gives one word of caution about the
harvesting; the stalk must not be piled up in 2
Wet or half dry state unless they are TO be carried
/ Immediately to the decorticating machine, fol
fermentation or even partial putrefaction would
be the inevitable consequence, reducing the
| fbres to a worthless tow
during the lst year the plantation must bC
kept free and clear of weeds. and in the second
year the roots of one out of two rows must bt
pulled up to serve for new plantation" and pro
badly shall add, to give more room for the de
velopment of the plant.
The Leaves left on the ground make excellent
manure, but thorough application of liquiC
/ manure from time to time will much improve tbs
yield; the woody parts of stalk burned to ashe.
/ also prove an excellent dung"
Mr.. fremerey advocates the growing, not only OF
Urtica Tenacissima China grass but also of othei
varieties of ramie, the forest nettle and the Amer
can nettle lurtica pustulatal which have som,
j good properties and produce equally valuable fl
/ bres, 50 as does also the common European sting
ing netile (urtioa dioica). Many other useful hint
/ can be gathered from Mr.. Fremery's enthusiastic
through sober aud reasonable information and
am sure that if applied to by any one needing still
/ more ample elucldation, he would gladly answer
for the purpose of helping the propagation of tn,
plant which has engaged the attention OF hi.
HE. 4. Marques.