Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-08-21
N OREhP LAbU2.
II Is Running the Italian SIaw-Plaiters.

Il Is Running the Italian Suaw-Plaiters.
The Tuscan straw-plaiters assert
that they are almost ruined, and it is
the Chinese who are running them.
Chinese plaits in the coarser qualities
at IA price which puts competition ont
of the question, says the London
Standard. basing its assertion Oh u on
sular report. The finer articles would
still, were fashion agreeable, lind IA
sale, for ~cheapness is only IL dictator
where necessity and not luxury, is
concerned. But the demand for straw
hats in Europe and america is at pres
ent, for the most part, confined 10 the
poorer classes, and they, of course,
prefer the low priced and at the same
time well-ma'le, strong, and scrviceable
Chinese plaits to those which cost
more without being any better. In
England, according to the reports Of
the Luton plaiters, the rivalry of the
Chinese Is by no means crushing. On
The contrary, it has helped their trade,
in 50 far that b. using thochaap Can
tons rs n basis for ommon goods,
they have been enabled to find for
their wares a market in regions where
hitherto they had some difficulty in
etiecting IN entrance. What has in
terfercd with the English straw-plaiters
is the competition of the cheap Italian
and Swiss chips and the German
pyramids, combined, of course, with
the declining taste for straw hats and
other articles made out of the same
material. To the competition Of the
Chinese may also be traced the fact
that straw ready for plating and plaits
themselves, are nov little, If at all, cx-
ported 10 Switzerland and England.
Yet, in spite Of the depression COM
planned OF, the expectation of Florcn-
tine plaits has nearly treblcd, though
the profits, owing TO the causes men
toned, are much less than formerly,
which both Venice and Carpi, in the
province of Modena, have entered into
rivalry with Florence. The high esteem
in which the old ''Leghorns'' were
held was greatly due. like that Of their
modern representatives, 10 the care
taken, not only in preparing and plait
ing the straw. and in putting the bon
net into shape. but in the intelligence
displayed in selecting the seed from
which the straw was grown and the
soil in which il was To be sown. 4
variety of spring wheat is invariably
used; and in growing it the object Of
the c%ultiyator is to produce a fine. long
straw, and not a full crop of wheat
Hence. nil the usual conditions are re
yersed. This spring wheat is sown in
winter, a mountain variety on lowlands
and the seed is thickly instead Of thinly
scattered. since the thicker the seed is
sown the finer the straw comes out
But, Notwithstanding AL their assiduity
the Italian, like the English man
ufacturcrs, find it impossible to COM
pete against low prices. We sa5 the
italians are too much for us; the
Italians complain Of the Chinese, and,
unless the latter develop a taste for
luxury or for idIencss. il is difficult to
see where their rivals are To come
from. Even the Hindoo can not work
more cheaply than the Mongol. In
any case, The end is not very difficult to
forecast, although il may bc further of
than is sometimes imagined