Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1894-02-23
THE USE OF ODD FIBERS
MATERIAL FOR TEXTILE FABRICS
RECOMMENDED BY UNCLE SAM.
Production of Pineapple Fiber-Cul-
tivation of Sisal Hemp-The Re
markabIe Ramie.

ular interest in American
fibers. OF such materials in
the raw the United States imports
$50, 900, 900 worth annually, though it
is reckoned that one-half of that
quantity could be produced i'll this
country just as well. The other half
is derived from vegetable species
which could not be cultivated profit
ably here, climate and soil being un-
suitable. Seeing immense profits
ahead, inventors and capitalists are
turning their attention to the making
of machinery for obtaining tibers from
various plants which the farmers will
supply as soon as manufacturers de-
mand them. Meanwhile Uncle Sam
is circulating information far and wide
on the subject, telling what kinds OF
leaves and stalks will yield the most
suitable stuff for cordage, twine and
all sorts of textile fabrics.
The fiber bureau at Washington,
under the direction of Expert Charles
Richards Dodge, has great hopes of
the pineapple as fiber producer in
this country. In Florida the fruit is
grown on large scale, but the leaves
are thrown away-thousands of tons
of them annually. 1t is frightful
waste, for they can be made to yield
one of the most valuable fibers known.
In India pineapple fiber is woven into
the most delicate of all vegetable
fabrics-the celebrated ''pina. The
latter looks like gossamer and is so
light that it will almost float in the
air when tossed up. For making 1T
the fibers are laboriously separated by
hand, the ends being glued together
so as to make continuous thread.
They can be spun like flax. At the
same time, they are wonderfully
strong, and there is record of an inch
rope formed of them that stood
strain of 500 pounds before breaking.
The cultivation of another plant
namely, sisal hemp-for the fiber
yielded by its leaves is already promis-
ing to develop into great industry in
Florida. Every year we import from
Yucatan $5, 900, 900 worth of this kind
of fiber, which can be produced just
as well and of better quality in the
Peninsular State, south of the frost
line. The sisal grows readily in the
poorest and rockiest soil, which can
not be farmed profitably for anything
else. Apart from its commercial
value, it is one of the most interesting
plants in the world. 1t is bush OF
huge green bayonet-shaped leaves.
When about six years old it sends up
| from its middle with great rapidity a
stalk or mast twenty-five feet high and
| three inches in diameter. From the
| upper half of this stalk small branches
grow out, each branch bearing tulip
| shaped blossoms. The flowers do not
smell pleasantly, their odor being de-
scribed as resembling the bouquet ola
mouse in an advanced stage OF de-
| composition under the floor. Pres
| emily the blossoms wither, the petals
| drop off, and i'll their place leaves ap-
| pear. Within few days, where each
| flower was, It complete little sisal plant
has developed, attached to an ex-
/ tremity of the parent stem. When
mature it drops to the ground, and, II
| it manages to come into contact with
the mother earth, proceeds to take
|
| progenitor. This method of reproduc-
| tion is found in no plant save the sisal
/ and few of its near relatives. As
/ MANY as 1000 small plants may be
gathered from single stalk as they
ripen. They are remarkably tenacious
\ OF life and will retain their vitality for
months out of the ground. Plantations
/ of sIsal practically take care OF them
selves. The fiber yielded by the
leaves is superb material for cordage,
binding-twine and other purposes.
Ramie is the most remarkable of the
new fiber producing plants. Its culti'
vation il likely to become eventually
! one of the foremost agricultural indus
tries of the United States. All that Is
required to bring this about is II sat
isfactory machine for separating the
/ fiber economically. No eontrivance
that will accomplish this cheaply has
as vet been devised. Consequently
the stuff is nowhere produced ON "a
commercial basis at present, except III
Japan, where labor n procurable Tor
next to nothing The japanese sepa'
rate the fiber by hand and dry II Oh
| the roofs OF their houses. One man
can thus prepare two pounds day,
The plant belongs to the nettle iam'
/ ily and is sometimes called the sting
I less neitle II il Also known az China
! grass. having been cultivated in that
country from time immemorlal. The
fiber Is ia The hark of the stalk, which
has pithy centre. ID b. very beau
I tifni. light, strong a. elk aud viii not
mildeN From Il All sorts ai eNqais.
Z te fahrles are made, couniefieiting
silk aud the finest linen, as veil as
Y laees fur eHrtnins, muslina, itess
goods. pluahes and hAndaoni, aud ser
7 yieeahle eanata. a has been sng
y aehtea - Is future material iuf yacht
sails uu areount "a lle iighineas and
strength kamis thrlyes ia thf Cult
I Ssiatss aud California on, acre oi h
yesf al.lsill produce ~ wn pounds
I If stripped stslks Fesdy ipf machine
Z 1 hfm n salaal. Aass. has devised Z
E plaH iar Feaneing thp hhfnus parts e
I ihe l4lanta lnia saal hke substance
7 ifan shieh nies fafps ipf certain
Z elassas - nsauaiafiaro afs produced
E Va tas saAs "a eHfuafasinH iHfmefs
y I cultivate il aiiiafnia haa Hiiffta :
haanls - fhla Hbsf MaFhiAetaH