The Kosciusko star. (Kosciusko, Miss.) 18??-1898, 1895-03-15

antly as maize. Under favorable
conditions it yields two or three
crops a season. In France it
yields two crops to an acre, giving
S2oc clear on an acre. Americans
who have tried the experiment OF
raising ramie in our Gulf States
have estimated the gross value OF
the two crops year at from 500 |
to SI2o an acre. These figures do |
not refer to the products of the
first two years after planting. Du-
ring that time so large yield
would be impossible, but after
wards, in consequence of the luxu-
rance Of the plant and the small
cost of its cultivation, the returns
would be large and profitable
at is certainly reasonable to as
sumo that the unworn soil OF our
Southern States will bear as boun-
teous harvests as the long cultlvat-
ed fields of France.
"In July, 1887, Texas planter
set out several thousand ramie
roots. The next spring each root
sent forth 80 or 40 sprouts which
grew with rapidity. But early IN
July drought began which lasted
nine weeks. During this period
SO great was the intensity of the
heat that the soil was dried to a
depth of more than two feet
Hundreds of thousands of cotton
plants persisted, but the ramle sur
vived the drought, and, qulckened
by the fall rains, grew with such
| luxuriance that often $50 stems
: were found in clusters not more
, than two feet in diameter. In one
, instance I6S stalks sprung from
} single mast of roots. The plant
1 grew so rapidly that IA days ate
the cutting of the mature stems tn
: new sprouts were 80 inches high
: Each root Yielded gross return c
r four or FIVE pounds OF fiber, tn
e price Of which was then 4 cents
a pound.
Il "From the product of the te'
Il plants which were permitted tull
d to ripen, it was estimated that tn
o average production OF seed woul
r not be less than forty pounds to a
If acre In previous years New loi
e. firms had sometimes paid lex
l. planters as high as 81 pound II
s ramie seed. The results OF tn
g experiment in growing ramie pro-
+ that culture of this textile can pr
IS duce three, or possibly four ha
er vests a year with an average OF It
at stalks to each root.
es "Ol course YOU want to kno
.al what this ramie is and what can
i'll made Of it. Ramie is an eXqulsit
Ia " fine and surprisingly strong
MS Der. Though slightly less CLOS
ne il is far more durable than silk, a
~ as fine as cotton. 1t is CHEAP
nd than linen and stronger than hen
,se and its range Of use IS widely
~. led,
.Its earliest use began in
IN 2ges OF an immemorial antiqui
3D. -Four thousand years ago, Eg.
lot tan ceremcnts were made of t
ne. material. Among the widely
1at yersihed products made OF raj
ere are ropes and cables that exc
18th the strength Of manila hemp;
OF bleclothes that excel the gloss
q Irish linen; lace that equals
del;c@cy of cotton and surpas
cnt its durability; pushes that r
lrs- the ulster Of scalskin; velyets, d
nee asks and b.ocades, whose eXqul
Our finish embarrasses a further
the yancement in textile art. Ia
site is combined with cotton, III
lem wool and silk, and it always a
and to the mixed texture an eIemen
ra- greater usefulness or beauty
ters bandkerchiefs, cravats and hosi
in cambrics, camelets and sha
CON in alpacas, carpets and dfape'
900 ii Is. with the possible eXcep
elsn of silk, superior to the .hbefs
gre wbic h it IS woven.
"a "Though China has always
mere the chief producer Of ramle' Q
no" countries have attempted IT'S c
as d walton, among these notably II
hese the West Indies, the Sand
Sc 10 Islands, Northern Africa, an
! le 1o a. every country in Southern Euro