Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-07-31

Ramie is a perennial plant of the net
lie tribe; though kindred to hemps it is
far superior to it in value; it grows like
willow and sends forth numerous stalk
several times a year, the roots run deep
into the ground and the stalks reach a
height of from five to six feet, according
to soil and climate; it draws its nutri-
ton from the air as much as from the
ground. The annual yield is from two
to three crops.
Ramie prOspers In temperate climate,
and requires a light, porous soil, free
from swamPy sub-s0il, which might
cause therOtting of the roots.
The ground must be we'll prepared by
blowing and narrowing. The best sea
son for planting is February or March.
A little manure would be good to give
the vegetation a start. We do not rec
Ommend the long and tedious method of
raising by seed, because it requires too
much time, and the additional work of
tIansplanting. Our advice is to begin
the plantation with roots. The soil
being well prepared, the Ramie roots are
planted the same as with potatoes, at a
depth Of four inches, one foot apart
from each other, IN burrows four feet
apart.
To obtain full yield, it is necessary
TO start out with a considerable number
Of roots. Planted as above described.
one acre viii furnish fifty burrows Of two
hundred feet In length, which at the rate
Of one plant a foot, viii give 10000 roots
for a good planting yield. By planting
in February or March next, one month
after, you viii have two or three stalks
per root Of abOut one or two feet high
The first growth is generally bad, and
too woody; it is proper to cut with the
sickle in April. YOu viii then have in
July a first crop of about ten stalks per
root, and In October twenty stalks per
root. You viii proceed ia the same
manner the second year, when, the root
being stronger, the first crop viii be
ready In june and the second in Sep
TENDER. One hundred stalks viii give
an average Of one pound of crude bark
The 3OO,0 600 stalks Of two crops viii
therefore give 5000 ponds a year,
which, at five cents a pound, makes a
gross return Of $3.50 per acre.
The only comparatively great outlay
is in the roots required for the first plant
ing. but when it is considered that this
outlay has to be made but once, and that
the roots are constantly producing new
ones for the further extension Of the plan
tatiOn, the cost is In fact small when
apporhOned to each year.
The work Of cultivation is Cheap.
One or two runs with the cultivatOr to
loosen the ground, and the plant once
started viii raDidly Outgr1W an weeds
and soon Overshadow the ground with a
luZuriant foliage.
HARVESTING AND DECORTIcATLNG.
The maturity Of Ramie is indicated by
a brownish color at the lower end Of the
stalk. The cutting Is done by a mower.
The stalks are lied up In a bundle of two
or three hundred, and carried to a dec
OrticatOr, through which they are passed
This last operation should be performed
while the stalks are as fresh as possible
within a few days of cutting. The
capacity of a small machine is Of one
hundred stalks per minute or sixty
pounds per hour, and six hundred pounds
Of crude bark per day with three hands.
1t VIII take two days and half to make
the first crop Of an acre, as much for the
second crop, with two days additional
for cutting the stalks and leaves, say
$40 crop expenses, adding S25 cost of
motive power for the machine, the annual
expenses of maintenance and blowing,
cost OF drying and packing the bark
one acre viii produce net $50 at any
time, for the Ramie never fails, either
from too much rain or drOuth.