The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-12-03
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Pacific Commercial Advertiser
ABOUT RAMIE AND JUTE.

The ADVERTISER presented the fact
before the country some time ago that
the local consumption for sugar and
rice bags would justify the establish
ment Of jute factory in Honolulu
where labor might be easily made avail
able. Nothing, however, was done
towards giving practical effect to the
suggestion. But a step in this general
direction has been made by the Ramie
Company, which has set about the cul-
tivation of ramie on a sufficiently ex-
tensive scale to give its decorticating
machine a fair trial. And the Legisla-
ture very properly voted a sum of
money to assist the company's enter
prise.
While all this is highly commendable,
we still think that jute fac
tory in Honolulu would pay the pro-
prietors, and employ large number OF
hands in weaving the fibre and making
bags. We find that the jute mill in the
State Prison OF California at San QUEEN
tin, yielded net profit of $14,0 43 last
fiscal year. This mill is operated by
convicts, who are the worst kind of la
borers, necessarily working short hours
and Sinking duty whenever possible
Ii therefore the State Prison authorities
of California made such a profit by
weaving imported jute and making the
fabric into wheat sacks, there is every
reason to think that a similar enterprise,
conducted economically here would be
at least equally remunerative. And this
brings us to the point that the raw
material OF manufacture might be raised
on these Islands and thus increase the
profits of jute factory.
1t may be well, however, to note, for
the inform alton of those interested in
the cultivation of ramie, that this is be-
coming a prominent question in the
Southern States and California Mr.. w.
w. Clendinin of San Jose has brought it
before the wheat growers of California
in forcible way through the columns
of the San Francisco Examiner He
says:
The cold fact is now staring farmers in /
the face that it viii no longer pay to raise /
wheat in California. Ramie and jute /
would be far more profitable crops to raise Z
than wheat, and that those two valuable /
plants can be successfully grown in this (
STATE there is not a shadow of n doubt .
Ramie belongs to the family of Nettles, or /
UrticacO. It's specific name is Urticia
Behmerla. II Is a stingless nettle from
the island of Java, growing with straight /
woody stock four To six feet high Though I
kindred to hemp 1t Is far superior in value
1t grows like the willow and sends forth F.
NszF Il
roots run deep into the ground, and il
draws its nutrition from the air as much
as from the ground. 1t is perennial
plant, and the best season for planting is
in February and March. The soil being
well prepared, the ramle 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 The
work of cultivation Is cheap. One or two
runs with a cultiVatOr to loosen the ground I
and the plant once started will rapidly out
grow all weeds, and soon overshadoWs the
ground with luXuriant foliage. The ma
turity of ramle IS indicated by a brOwnish
color at the lower end of the stalk The
cutting is done with a mower The stalks
are tied up in bundles OF two or three hun
bred and carried to the decorticator
through which they are passed This last
operation should be performed while the
stalks are as fresh possible, within two
or three lays of cutting. Ramie Is a sure
crop, and never fails, either from too much
rain or drouth.
Mr.. Clendinin sent the Examiner a
sample of the first bale of ramie ever
made in the United States. 1t was
grown on Bradish Johnson's Woodland
plantation, Louisiana, and decorticated
and bleached by J. Juyenet at New Or
leans. Mr.. Juvenet has sent a sample
bale OF the fibre, prepared for spinning,
to the New Orleans Produce Exchange,
md he is about to send a second bale to
London for the information OF English
The ramie men are
therefore considerably ahead OF us in
Louisiana, and are turning out a fine
silky fibre fit for spinning This should
lot discourage US, however, but lead to
greater earnestness Of purpose on the
'art OF those engaged in the ramie en- ]
erprise in this country. q
Mr.. Juvenet calculates that three crops
II ramie may be raised in Louisiana :
early, yielding by his process 1000 {
pounds OF crude bark worth ) cents per :
ound, or a total OF $50 an acre. The G
ost OF production and manipulation is q
81, leaving 500 per acre net for the /
ears operations. His ramie machine u
certificates 1890 stalks in a dav of o