The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1889-01-22
Is Not Ramie Culture Destined to be Great


letter from the itamle SPINNING and Man
ufactUring Company, of New York, to
Mr.. John 5. Winthrop, of this city, which
may be of interest. Mr.. Winthrop has
been for several years past experimenting
with the growth Of ramie and has dem
onstrated 20 his satisfaction its adapta-
bility to this climate and section. The
only question, therefore, remaining to be
solved is that Of preparing the fibre for
market III It's crudest condition. The
company above referred to present one
method-that of decoitcation 10y machin-
cry, and would seem to be in earnest III
affording a test Of their machine, and III
offering to purchase the product. We hope
to be able shortly to afford more definite
information as to the price which they
will pay, and the terms upon which they
could place a machine in Tallahassee.
AS tending also to show the widespread
interest i'll this fibre we copy in addition
to the letter two clippings-one from The
New York Times and the other from
paper, the name of which we are unable
to state, referring to process of decorti-
cation by means Of chemicals, which may
in the end be the better of the two. All
of these we are sure will be read with in
terest, and we think Will 60 far to con-
vince our planting friends that the day
is not far distant when ramie will take
an important part in the development of
the South, and that those who plant now,
even on small scale, will be the first to
reap the benefit, the wonderful increase
Of the roots making one acres planting
in two years the nucleus for a large
farm:
New YORK, January 81, 1889.
John S. Winthrop, Esq, tallahassee, Fla:
DEAR SIR am happy TO inform you that we
have at last purchased a factory at Englewood,
New Jersey, and have put our degummng ma
chnery into position All we want now is
ramie. We have sent to Texas and also to Eu-
rope for some of the crude fibre and would like
very much to add to our stock from your State
Ii you have not sufficient on hand or your
neigl bors to warrant your purchasing de-
l think we can enter into satisfactory
terms as to leasing OF same to you. | would
like it very much if you would report what is
being done as to the cultivation of rame in Flor
da as we would very much prefer buying in
This country than abroad. Texas and Louisiana
both are going ahead in the production OF same
Wishing you Happy New Year, and hoping to
receive an early reply, Yours very truly,
JNO. w. ANDERSON
4 QUICK AND INEXPENSIVE WAY TO UTILIZE
RAMIE.
CHARLESTON, S. c., Jan "a discovery
which p.omses 10 be of the utmost importance
10 the Southern States has been made by Dr.
Y. +. Panknn of Charleston. 1t is not praci-
cable at this time to give the Details but suffi-
clent can be said to show the nature of the dis
6Sttery and its value.
At diHteTynt times many experiments looking
0 the cultivation of ramie have been made in
be South, and The plant, it has been found
an be grown without difficulty. 1t will grow
anywhere that cotton grows, at no expense
whatever for cultivation. 1t grows like "A weed, |
nd is not subject to the ravages OF worms, nor |
1t liable to any Of the other maades to which |
be more tender cotton is subject. Ramie, then, |
an be grown without difficulty, The trouble |
hitherto has been to find a quick and inexpen- |
i've way in which the bark OF the rane plant |
ould be prepared for manufacture withaut in |
7 to the peculiar quality and value 0! the
lbre. 1t IS such process as that which has |
'een so long sought which DR.. Panknin has dis |
covered.
Without any mechanical process of conse-
Iue zee, and by simple chemical treatment, oc-
;upying IN all from 4S to 60 hours the bark of
he ramie is brought into condition to be corded
md spun, so that in this condition it is avail |
able Tor all the various uses for the different
exile material, such AS the finest cotton and
,ilk. Dr. Panknln has been engaged on his tX-
pertinent Tor considerable lime, and has now
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