Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-02-15
SUBSTITUTE FOR J0TE.
Probable Future Uses of the Fiber of the
Okra Plant.

From the New York Star.
For some time past the Department of
Agriculture at Washington has been
watching experiments with the fiber of the
okra plant. Heretofore this vegetable,
which grows as common weed in most OF
the Southern States, has rested its sole
claim to fame on the fact that its pods,
when used in due proportion with other
ingredients, make delectable soup. Okra
enthusiasts now assert that in the near
future the plant Will overthrow the hither-
to impregnable Cotton-bagging Trust and
even supersede cotton itself as a material
for making cheap, serviceable cloth.
The South Carolina State Department of
Agriculture first had its attention called to
the possibility of okra fiber, but until quite
recently nobody has pretended that it
can be spun into a material cheaper and
better than ramie and iute for making cot
ton bagging j. J. Hill, of Edgefeld, S.
c., lately sent the State Department of
Agriculture a sample of fiber which was as
glossy and as tough as ramie. A specimen
was Immediately forwarded to Secretary
Rusk's bureau at Washington. Since then
the Secretary has received many letters
from Southerners who believed that okra
is bound to supplant jute as covering for
cotton bales.
The most extensive claims as to okra's
future are made by ". E. Ludlow, prac-
teal machinist, who has studied the plant
for long time, and now declares that he
can make machine which will separate
the fiber from the wood and gluten of the
plant, and do the work so cheaply that
lutte and ramie, which require manual
labor in the process of decoration, will be
driven out of the market. Moreover, he
declares that okra fiber is an excellent SUB
stitute for cotton, and predicts that it will
eventually furnish cheap clothing for the
million.
Experts who have had their attention
called to the matter admit there isno ques-
ton as to the usefulness of okra fiber after
it is once separated from the wood and
gluten of the plant Their only doubt is
as to whether Mr.. Ludlow can produce the
clean fiber as cheaply as he thinks he can.
The plant thriyes on undrained land; it
will grow luxuriantly on abandoned rice
swamps, SO the cheapness of its culture is
universally admitted. The fiber makes up
nearly the whole of the stalk, for the wood
and bark are very thin. The crop need
not be harvested at any particular time,
but can be allowed to die in the fields and
then be cut up whenever it becomes con
venient to extract the fiber.
A Star reporter called yesterday upon
President James H. Parker of the New
York Cotton Exchange, to ascertain his
opinion as to the weight OF the claims
which are made for okra.
II had my attention called to the plant
and its possible uses some time ago." said
President Parker. Samples of the fiber
have been sent to me, and have no doubt
that such fiber as l have handled can be
spun into fabric which would make as
good bagging as jute does"
"Do you think that okra fiber will super
sede iute as material for cotton bag
ging?" asked the reporter.
THAT / cannot say. How can tell? [
know nothing about the process by which
it is proposed to separate the fiber from
the rest of the plant The separation may
cost ten times as much as the correspond
ing process does in the case of jute, and, on
the other hand, it may not cost one-tenth
as much"
"Have you heard Mr.. Ludlow's claims ?"
81 know that he says he can produce
clean okra fiber, suitable alike for bagging
and for dress fabrics, at a cost far below
that of jute or cotton. Now, know moth
ing whatever about his process. Maybe it
will do what is claimed tor it. certainly
can make no prediction as to the future Of
okra until am familiar with the details
of its production"
Several other leading cotton brokers,
members of the Exchange, including Treas
urer Walter T. Miller md ]. A. Boylan,
were visited. Nearly all OF them were
aware that enthusiasts have made great
predictions concerning the future of okra,
but none of them were willing to treat the
subject seriously until they are convinced
that some cheap and practical method of
separating the fiber has been invented.