Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-03-13
JUTE IN INDIA AND TEXAS.

JUIE In INDIA AND 1EAAos
Methods Of Its Culture In the Two Countries
Resp criveiy.
Weatherford Sun.
In addition to the pamphlet on the Gull
ture of iute in Texas, recently published
for free distribution by the Weatherford
Native Jute Rope Manufacturing Com
pany, Mr.. ]. Juvenet gives the subioined
detailed method of the cultivation of this
valuable textile in IndiaNsnd that to be
pursued for it's sue ,essful cultivation in
Texas. The directions for plant
ing, cultivating and harvesting the
crop are so explicit and simple that after
reading them carefully farmers cannot be
st loss as to the proper method Of the
cultivation Of the new crop, nor can there
be scarcely any doubt in that case as to
the success of the new culture and q
more remunerstive return in proportion
to It's cost in labor and money than Is at
tanned in the cultivation of sny other field
crop raised in this state.
The respective Methods OF the Jute
culture in India and Texas as given by the
writer are as follows:
METHOD IN INDIA.
Since the remotest time luteI with
cotton, is the fibre most used in Indts.
1t grows there in great varieties, but two
only are used for manufacturing pur-
poses; the others, being Of vegetable
kind, serve as nourishment tosthe natives,
who draw from the leaves and young
tWigs an eatable which they highly relish.
Jute grows also in China, Syria and
Egypt; but the bulk of the production Of
iute fore comes from Bengal, which fur
nishes nearly all the jute consumed In
other parts Of India, Europe and America.
Why should not Texas cultivate this
plant, which grows easier and better in
her soil than it does IN India. Let us ex-
anime the difference OF cultivation and
harvesting in the two countries:
Jute is cultivated in Indis by farmers
called "ryots," who have small plants
tions managed By themselves alone. They
SOW iute broadcast at the beginning OF
the rainy season in Msrch or April, some
times near rivers having periodical over
flows, but most generally on high ground,
IS the mountain rice The only work to
be done is to thin the plants when
they are too thick, in order to facilitate
the growth. Jute sprouts in the form OF
thin, straight stalks with leaves. Four
months after sowing the stalks are from
ten TO twelve feet high and ready for
harvesting. The "ryot" makes dis
tinction between the jute for his own use
cutting same when IN fower-and the
jute for trade, which is cut.fully matured.
The return of the first is less, but the
fibre is finer. Jute is pulled with the
roots and Carried 20 water to be retted.
The stalks are immersed and
every day the "ryot" exsm-
ines his iute, scrapes the
bark with his nail and studies the pro-
gress Of decomposition, When the CEN
trail portion comes easy the retting pro-
cess is about complete, and SIS for the
length of time, that is according to the
temperature, and is from ten to fifteen
days. When the "ryot" thinks the water
hiss sufficiently decOmposed his jute, be
begins to separate with the hand near the
root q portion Of the bark; then he knocks
the other end on an inclined plank placed
before him, and by moving the
stalk rapidly up and down he
separates the bark from the wood
This is his kind of decortlcation. In this
semi-preparation jute need not be titled I;
it is washed to get rid OF its half.dissolv-
ed gummy and resinous matter. This
washing is done by an operator getting In
water, revolving bundle OF bark above
his head aud striking it little by little on
the water surface. When the largest part
of the soluble matter is removed, the op-
orator spreads his bundle in fan form or
the Water surface end picks out the re
naming foreign substances. Jute Il
H. t. h. ~
boo or on ropes fixed for that purpose
The fibre is finally put up in packages tt
be sent to the brokers.
METHOD IN TEXAS.
All the above iute work done in Indie
could not be done in Texas, on accoun
of the cost OF hand labor and lack Of wa
ter. Jute work is done in Texas by ma,
chinery, easily and chesply, and in doing
sway with the rettiDg process.
In Texas jute will not thrive in 8 very
sandy soil, but in lands Of alluvisl bottom
or in flooded valleys, or in high, moist
sandy ,osm. AlluVial loan is favorsbl,
to its growth. The land for this crol
must be well broken up in the field unit
the soil has been thoroughly pdlveriz9d
March and April are the best months TO
sowing. The seed is sown in drills 81!
inches thick and three feet from row t
row. From the time of sowing, 50
March or April, to the time of harvesting
say August or September, the only wor
to be done is to keep the land clea
from weeds and to pull some c
the young stalks growing too thickly
Jute must be cut while the plant is i
flower, because the fibre is then nor
glossy and less woody. The cutting6
the stalks can be done either by move
or cane knife. The stalks are left in th
field three or four days till the leaves isl
of and are then carried TO the decortiEa
tor, or machine. The above work IS tn
only work the Texas farmer has TO dc
The machine does the balance and s
acre Of iute will return net from SO