The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1892-10-12
NEW CROP FOR FARMERS.
RAMIE COULD BE PROFITABLY RAILS
ED IN GEORGIA.


Uhe Most Valuable Fiber for Manufactur-
ing Purposes KnOwn--It Is as Fine as
Silk and More Durable.
From the Triton Gazette.
The subject of the cultivation of ra-
nie in the cotton states is being agitated.
Ramie is a plant noted for its fiber,
which, it is believed, if proper applian-
ces were brought to bear upon it, would
revolutionize the textile industry of this
country.
1t is a coarse, nettle-like weed that
grows wild all over the southern country
In moist shady places. 1t is common in
river bottoms. Scientists have declared
the fiber of the ramie to be supe-
be superior to either cotton, silk or flax.
1T is as soft as silk and much stronger
than any of the first named. 1t is grown
largely in India and large quantities of it
are now shipped to Europe where it is
used as a substitute for silk.
Ramie is perennial, somewhat shrub
by plant, generally growing to height
of four feet, with long pointed serrate
leaves, dark green in color with snowy
sort of down underneath.
The useful part of the plant is the in
ner bark, or rather t fiber of it, which
can be manufactured into fabrics having
the finest silken texture. An effort
was made to get southern planters to
engage in its culture in 1867, but, owing
to the deranged condition Of labor, little
interest was taken in the matter, al
though it was proved at first to be
profitable venture, when the hitherto
unconsidered problem of the disposal
of the crop came up.
The fiber could not be prepared by
Aand, as in eastern countries. and the
crude material was too bulky for export;
so the excitement subsidized.
Now it appears that the matter may be
brought forward again under far more
favorable auspices.
A gI.ouisiana writer, in an article in
the New York Evening Post sees in ra-
mic a plant which, if a machine to dis
cOrticate it can be invented, will become
the most valuable fiber for manufactur-
ing in the world. Il do not say" he OBJ
serves, "that it will supercede cotton,
for the cheapness of the latter and the
high price of the former will, for quite a
while, prevent this. But the enormous
profits to be made in raising it, if the
proper discorticatOr can be found, will
Induce everybody to plant it.
The greatincrease of the product will
ulti mately cheaper it's price, and the
withdrawal of many planters of cotton
will tend to help the price of their arti-
Gle, Flax will be almost thing of the
past, for it has all the merits of that fl
Der, and utterly transcends its best feat
ures. I take it that the silk industry
will have such blow struck at it as
will nearly paralyze it.
|SEvery one who has ever seen ramie
or worn it falls in love with the fabric.
1t is as cool as linen, soft as silk, ia"
more durable, and has a lustre with an
Irridescense suggestive of the opal. For
summer wear, either external or for I'M
Gerclothing, il would certainly distance
competition at the south and ali warm
countries
"sIt would pass into table linens, nap
kins, towels, etc. Its uses in cordage of
all sorts would ensue just as soon as
prices would justify.
F'Its power to resist strain and break
ago is almost incredible. | have in vain
tried to snap an UNFINISHED Pice pulled
two DAYS ago, not over the sixteenth of
an inch in diameter. What cables it
would make A hawser, with good an
'chorage, would hold ship to her moor
In IS in any storm.
F'COl. G. A. Breaux, of Lafayette La,
as growing several acres of ramie. 1t is
nov ten feet high, and is said 20 be a
beautiful plant. There will be a trial of
Camie decorticators at New Orleans I'M
der the auspices of the United States
government Colonel Breaux has agreed
TO furnish the ramie for the expert
ments."
Major G. NJ Ryals, who is Chatham
COuntys standard authority on agricult-
ural subjects, was asked about the mat
Ter recently.
Major RyaIs said he had heard about
Ghe plant, but had never investigated or
expemmeuted with it. He sees no rea-
son why it should not be successfully
grown, as all the requirements of damp
soil and warm climate prevail here. If
ahe experiments for preparing it for
manufacture are successful, he thinks it
would be we'll for the farmers of this
section to plant experimentally.
Guaranteed Cure.
We authorize our lvertised druggist
TO sell Dr. Kings New Discovery for
consumption, coughs and colds, upon
this condition. If you are afflicted with
Al. IL.