The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-02-19
RAMIE.
It's Cultivation, Preparation and
Uses-Adaptability to Our Soil
and Climate. Value and Pres
ent Status

ana CIl mate. Satuc ana Pres
ent Status.
Ramie or china grass (Boehmeria ten
acis.ma) was first introduced into this
country in 1855 from Jamaica and has
been planted in Louisiana and other
parts of the south as well as in New
Jersey. The stem dies in winter but new
growths shoot up again in the spring and
may be cut again and again. 1t grows
four or five feet high, derives most of its
sustenance from the air, and therefore
may be grown on the same soil year af-
ter year. 1t requires little cultivation
after the first year. and in our climate
could probably be cut five times. With
three crops A. feet high we should have
eight tons of dried stems and one ton of
clean fibre per acre. The value Is about
ten dollars per ton OF dried stalks in
bundles. The plant may lie started from
seed or root cuttings and lie staple is
long, fiber excellent. white and silky.
For raniie culture the land should be
high enough for drainage hut duuip-tle
soil should be rich and deep-moiet "ilu
vial sand is the best. The land should be
drained pIowed and narrowed. Decem-
Der, January and February are the best
months in which to plant. TIE roots
ara cut four or five inches long and plant
cd like cane. The seed is so fine and
the young shoots so delicate that roots,
rattoons and rooted layers give the best
stand. If the furrows are made five feet
apart and the roots laid lengthwise about
5000 will plant and acre. In two years
at most the rattoons will take complete
possession of the ground. When the
plant is ripe for cutting there is a brown
Ish tint at the root of the stem. If
good stand is not obtained on first trial,
then the growing plants are to be hent
down and covered with earth when they
will Immediately take root. AS soon as
the stand is secured then cutting for
market begins, but the fiber is much
finer when the growth is close and thick.
Mr. A. Angel, of Newark, n. j., has
patented a ramie machine which is con-
sidered successful, and the difficulty of
cleaning the fiber which troubled the
farmers of India So long has now been
II
is possible that the new invention may
have as important bearing on the agri-
culture of the south as did that of the
cotton gin.
As to the value of raInie there can be
no doubt. Most beautiful specimens of
poplins, mozambiques ana other goods
made from it at Bradford, England, are
now in the meseum of the agricultural
department at Washington. 1t bears a
close resemblance to silk, and, when
worked with silken fibers few can detect
the fraud. But it shows to best advant
age when mixed with worsted, and the
color is of the purest and most lustrous
white. The machinery for spinning
worsted will work the ramie fiber, and
the manufactory plants would soon be
put up if there were any certainty of sup
ply.
The experiments have all been made
and it Is satisfactorily proved that the
plant can be grown in Florida, that the
product is valuable, and that it can be
easily manufactured into most beautiful
fabricr. Since cotton is no longer king,
ramie may take its place in the south and
once more give us n monopoly carrying
with it the control of markets and COM
unerce lost since the war.