The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1891-07-31
MODE or PROpACATINC, PLANT
ING AND CULTlvATlNC
RAMlE.
{ Issued blythe Galveston Ramie Coz


In commencing II the land Is not
naturally very rich, it is well TO Ter
tilize with cotton seed meal or stable
manure, say half ton to the acre,
but when the plants are fully grown
fertiizing can only be done In
liquid form, as the plants cover the
bed completely. The luXuflant
growth which follows suitable manur
ing will we'll repay the planter, and
further, when the planter recollects
that he cuts four crops a year from
his plantation in this latitude 1t is
but reasonable to expect partial ex-
haustion of the soil, hence the neces-
sity for some repeated fertilizing.
The wooden parts of the ramle which
remain after the fibre has been taken
off, may be used for fuel and the
ashes of same put in the water be-
fore irrigatiDg, thus returning to the
soil some of its own nutriment ana
making an excellent fertilizer. After
each cutting of crop, fertilizlng
must be done. Therefore if the
planter cuts four crops, the ground
will be fertilzed four times a year.
If the planter sees iit he can spread
some fertilizer over the plantation
during the winter when the plants
are at stand still.
CULTIVATION.
The plant requires no cultivation
except wedding the first year and
keeping clean the roads by prevent
ing the plant from transgressing its
limits.
In the first year, if planted early
in the spring as directed, about the
middle or end of June the first crop
may be cut, but this crop being IT.
regular and its iibres very coarse, it
is not marketable and can be thrown
away. The second crop of the first
year will be ready for cutting about
the first of October, as it is still ir-
regular and having consequently diff.
ferent kinds of fibres, it will be
necessary to assert the stocks when
cut, say in three sizes In length only,
and keep them separate, as the ramie
ribbons for these several sizes will
bring different prices, but if mixed
up would not net the farmer as high
a price in the aggregate.
In the second year three crops can
be gathered, and the growth of the
ramie will be so luxurlant as to suffo-
cate every weed. About the middle
of May the stocks will average a
length of from five to SIX feet, when
they should be cut in order TO give
the new sprouts vigorous start be-
fore the hot June sets in. The Sec
ond cutting is to be about the end of
July and the third cutting about the
end Of October, each cutting, as be-
fore explained, to be followed by
careful irrigation with diluted ferti-
lizer, bearing in mind that the most
luxuriant crops are those which re-
ccive the largest quantity of moisture
and nourishment. The third year,
when the plant has reached its full
development, four to five crops can
be gathered, this depending on the
climatic conditions and the latitude
of the plantation. The time Of
maturity of the stems is indicated by
a blownish color on their lower ends,
yet we would not advise farmers tt
paw much attention to this, but tC
cut their crops at such time as they
can in their judgment do so, to make
the greatest number of good crops
within the season; of course, how
ever, not cutting crops where the
stock is less than five to six feet
high.
ITO be Continued.)