The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1885-09-02
Ramie.

EDIToR GAzETTE:-The following article was
originally written for the LRsO HalraiiaBo but as
many friends have urged me to publish il also in
the GAZETTE, have rewritten it for this purpose
Considerable attention, all the world over is at
present times, bestowed on n textile plant which
has been grown for centuries in China and ON
winch the Chinese bestow an immense amount of
care and industry, but whose culture has not vet
reached the status of an economical success any,
where outside of that country. This plant is the
1etor-Dia of the Chinese, called IN Assam and In.
dia, Rteea; in England. Chi,,a-gTass, or Chinese
gJdss-cioh plant, in Holland, France and PortngaI
hdMIe, and IS known TO the bOtanist by the Latin
names OF CTtiea TeidissiBied, or BOeLtHeyia mira
plant of the same family, BOchmfy,q llbg IL said
to have been used in the Hawaiian Islands for
making cloth, whilst the inhabitants of the Snndn
Islands have used it since the remotest antiquity.
Tor making nets, cordage and sails. When finely
prepared, the hber has properties and qualities Of
ITS own is strong, hne and shining like silk It 4
found, united with other materials in nearly ali
the finest and most delicate Eastern fabrics and
Is already extensively used by European manufac-
tnrers, who procure the raw material mainly from
China.
The plant was first imported TO ENGLAND NJ ,I,s
beginning of the century: il was from that tirna
pronounced most valuable acquisition for cloth
making. and ever since has been occupying the at-
tention OF economists. In fact outside of the
value OF Its fiber, II possesses everything which
may seem proper tn make success of its culture
1t IS plant OF very easy multiplication for outside
OF It's Seeds Il grows better still from cuttings and
spiittngs OF Its roots its culture is most simple
and easy; II has been found growing wild in many
Asiatic and tropical countries but seems to sucoee
nearly everywhere in the orange growing conn
tries; the price offered for Its fiber is most renlune
rative and the actual production falls far short OF
the demands. And yet with all these advantages
the culture of ramie has never deyeIoped itself
Tor this sole reason that it has been found nearly
impossible to separate the fiber from the stalk II
least within the limits of a practical Economical
cos, Whleh result the Chinese obtain BY process
N!leh mas remained one of their secrets. Many a
tTll mas Deen made, many a machine made and
ialled, tall public governments and chambers on
commerce Of the great industrial cities did not
ueem II unworthy of their attention and took The
matter IN hand: The Dutch Government was the
nrsti then the French Government has had the
thing under consideration ever since ism. A. ,hst
same Time the Government OF India offered a prize
Of 4o0OO TO the best machine for making raTnia q,
ore; tins offer not bringing any results il was re-
neVeo IN loii, when out of "a applications only
supported the test, and none were found worthy
Of the prize, though some encourarements rers
awarded TO TIE machines who came nearest tn the
mark. Then the Hawaiian government oifsrs5
S109OO ana the Guatemala Government 10000
Lol me same purpose. Nineteen machines claim
,iig 70 Gear rafnie were exhibited at the New Or
leans exhibition all of which failed in their object
however, some machines in France, based on
tle process INST invented by Mr.. Favier, Of Paris
ano oy MI Andrews, Of Belfast, of first submitting
ne PAM 70 the action of superheated steam, have
succeeded near enough to enable companies TO be
started m France, England and Italy for stiuulat
log the culture of the ramie and for CLEANING rs
hper 80 that II Is said TO be already extensively
bss1opagaied n Algiers and in some parts of the
49, q Genoa where Frenchnian, formerly
painter IN taya, Mr.. d Humierts has been derut-
ing me power OF large fortune and OF an in
uorniiable vii TO promote The Ramie industry
IN Honolulu every one knoFE that Mr. Coleman |
nAs oeen Tor years working at tho diicnlt problem
ana \ = nov Claimed that, after the last perfect