St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1885-09-26
OUR FUTURE GREAT PRO.
DUCT.

Special to City Item.l
WAsH1SGToS. Sept. Is, 1885.
The subject of this letter will, ]
am sure, be interesting to your
readers, and, in fact. to all men en-
gagged in agricultural pursuits in
the State of Louisiana.
| For many years the ramie plant
has been talked of in our midst.
The plant is we'll known in China
and France. 1t was imported into
our State. ard planted in various
localities, not only in Louisiana,
but in Georgia and Mississippi.
Without question it was satisfac-
torily proved that the ramie would
grow in Louisiana luxuriantly, and
of height and with thickness OF
stalk far exceeding its growth else
where, be it either in China, India
or France, our ramie stem being OF
the thickness Of ones finger, while
in France and Asia it never yield.
ed stalk thicker than q small
sized pipe stem. But then came
our troubles, 1. e. how to utilize the
material.
Various efforts were made to de.
corticate the plant, or otherwise fit
it for the manufacture of textiles.
For years every plan suggested or
patented proved abortive. and at
the present time there may be seen
in our Patent Office here in Wash
ington more than a hundred pat
ented machines to decorticate the
ramie plant, and all of them have
signally failed in producing fibre
with long staple, well cleansed and
we'll separated, without being cut
up or scraped.
The French, who saw the grea;
profit to arise out OF the plant. if j,
could be properly treated, in mix
ing it as the Chinese were doing
with their textiles, tried various
methods and machines for ramie
preparation, and after almost enc
less failures, they have at last per-
fecled q machine OF great ingenui-
ty-one SO perfect in all its ramiti-
cations that it leaves nothing TO be
desired.
It is to this wonderful invention,
as we'll as to number Of enter
prising American capitalists who
have formed a company calculated
to encourage the growth of ramie
in this country, that I1desire to call
attention, in the interest of Louisi-
ana. This is product. with its
now perfect machinery, that if
taken hold of, must lead planters to
fortune, and prove materially bene-
fetal to commerce.
Hon. E. John Ellis became much
impressed with the great advan-
tuge it would be to his State if a
machine could be invented to util-
ize the ramie plant. which plant it
had already been ascertained could
be cultivated easily and inexpen-
sively in Louisiana Nh. Ellis. with
all the money he could spare, as
well as all the time, during hib
Congressional terms, devoted him
self to the development of this
treasure. At last his efforts and
zeal were crowned with success.
when Il company was formed in
New York, and he. was elected its
first president, in which company
great capitalists and men of con-
siderable influence soon enlisted.
Alter having established the COM
pany under such favorable aus
pices, Mr.. Ellis retired from the
presidents chair in favor Of John
W. Anderson, remaining a director
Oh the board. TIE company is
called "The International Fibre
Co. of New York." John w. An
derson, president; S. Gruner, presi-
dent New York Cotton Exchange.
Kane Meisner, Fred Nelson and
E. John Ellis, board of directors.
Mr.. Anderson visited France and
purchased from the great inventor,
for a large SUM of money. the ma
chine upon which this company is
based. It is perfect in all respects.