The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-06-19
RAAlIE CLOTH.
Facts Concerning This New Ma.
terial for Sails.
It Will Be Used on tho Yachts valkyrls
and Defender - Tho Ramie Plant
and Its History In This
Country.

Adrian Wilson, the well-known
Boston sailmaker, in speaking Of the
Defenders lighter canvas, said that
our new cup defenders jib top-sail
would be made OF ramie cloth, says
the New York Sun. Asitis rumored
that both the Valkyrie ILL., s and the
Defenders head sails will be made
of this cloth, some facts about this
new material for sails will undoubt-
edly prove of interest to yachtsmen.
The following concerning ra,nie is
from E. A. Posselt's Structure OF
Fibers, Yarns and Fabrics" 81
standard work on the manufacture
of textile fabrics:
''Ramie is specimen of the nettle
family. 1t is o native OF East India,
China and Japan, but at present ex-
periments are being made rather ex-
tensively in our own country's gulf
states Especially in the vicinity Of
New Orleans) to cultivate this fiber..-
The actual introduction Of it into:
this country dates back to the year
1855. #
The plant, when fully grown, at
tains a height Of from four to eight
feet, and is surrounded with large.
ovate accuminate leaves, which are
green above and whitish or silveryS
beneath. the fiber being formed in
the bark surrounding the stalk,
which has a pithy center. Similar
to China grass, tits Of rapid growth,
producing from two to five crops q
year, according to climate and sod,
without replanting.
1.-THE method for obtaining the
fiber, as practised by the natives in
East India, China and Japan, is.
splitting and scraping the plant
stems and then sleeping them, As
this method is very tedious, u ma
chine and process are wanted to ac-s
complish this labor quickly and au-
tomatically. The ordinary rotting
process, as used for fax, is not suf-s
fciently effective, since the succu-ss
lent nature Of the stem and the;
great amount and acridity OF the.
gummy matter cause rapid coagula-s
tion. and become insoluble on ex.
posure to the air. 5S
I'm East India, China and Japan
the fiber is manufactured not only
into cordage, nets and similar
coarse fabrics, but is also used for
the construction of some Of their
most beautiful textile fabrics. On.
the European continent and in Eng
land the fiber has also been woven
into great variety Of fabrics, since.
it can be dyed in any color, aud
rivals silk in brilliancy.
"Another feature greatly in favor
of this fiber is it's remarkable.
strength and durability. It ia also
the textile fabric least affected by:
moisture. With reference to spin.
ming, ramie can be used either alone
or in conjunction with cotton, wool,
silk or flax, for the manufacture Of
textiles in which elasticity Is not es.
sential.
'Ramie has three times the
strength of Russian hemp, while Its
filaments can be separated almost to-
the fneness of silk. The average
value Of ramie, either imported Qn-
Guiding transportation and duty or
American grown material, is nine
cents per pound.
Recent improvements in the man.
ufacture Of ramie makes It's use pos,
sible in yacht sails. The duck made
from it will neither stretch nor
shrink, and it is stronger when wet
than when dry. 1t has not 80 smooth
o surface as the cotton duck, but.
can be made lighter with equal
strength.
The sails for the French men-of-s
war have been made from 1t for sew.
eral years.