, 1896-05-20
THE kANIE INDUSTRY.
\ Practical Start.
(JdmaiSa Gleoner.l

Having heard that Mr.. H. s. Watson. Soil.
cltor, was interesting himself in the subject
" the Ramle Cultivation in Jamaicaa Clean
er representative callel upon the gentleman
at his Office on Saturday for the purpose
OF Interviewing him on the matter.
is ~ sad the reporter ~ fact that a
company has been formed to develop the
Ramle industry here"
Mr.. Watson hesitated before lie replied. II
don't know whether ] skould be justified in
IN making any public announcement lust
yet. can't say whether it is Il company or
not, butt have been in correspondence with
q London firm who have instructed me to OBJ
tam Tor them q property Of about 5000 acres
suitable for growing ramie''.
"Have you purchased such u property?"
Well have one in view aud negotiations
tor purchase are now going On. an not in a
position to give further information to the
public until the matter is settled definitely.
Any further action will depend a GOOD deal
on the quantity of ramie plants the Botanical
department can supply. | have already made
application but do not know how many they
can spare
There is then a disposition on the part Of
English capitalists to put money into the
Rmnie business p
Evidently they have faith in the industry
Succeeding
at IS your intention to importd ecorticating
mNcline>?"
'On the poiAt | cannot speak defsately.
| shall hear further as to the preparation
OF the product. My instructions are to acquire
land. obtain lants from the Government and
get some planted. As soon "a TINT is done
Shall be informed as to future action and
whether they wish the ramie to be decorti-
Gated here and shipped to England in it's
raw state
"Will the capital be entirely English?'
Yes, except that Mr.. Robertson and my
self are also interested in the project"
Where is the land you have in view"
Tin one Of the eastern parishes"
Have you previously concerned yourself
at all about ramie?"
My brother-inlaw interested himself con
slderably IN the matter and through him /
got t. know something about the plant. |
have always had my eyes upon it as a paying
concern and | still entertain similar opinions
which are confirmed by recent reports. /
think it will become a very valuable source
of profit to the island. Several OF the parish
90 are specially adapted for ramie cultivation
SO long as we can get sufficient plants | sn-
terrain no feal about growingit."
What do You think about the decorticat-
ing machines that have been invented?"
II am not in q position to express an opini-
on on the subject not having gone into the
question very closely: but for the present at
any rate / don't think there will be any ne
cessity for decorticating the ramie in Jamai-
ca. All you have to do is to yet rid Of as
much as possible Of the wood and putty mat
ter. 1t is not my intention non ami instruct
ed to strip the bark by hand in the way ies-
cribed by the Governor at the meeting of The
Agricultural Society. There is machinery in
the island that will quite suit any purpose"
"And what will be TIE nature of the process
you intend to adopt?"
The machinery will simply be used for
crushing The stalks to facilitate the packing
of the material and 50 far as l am at present
advised the further processes necessary TO PIE
pare the fibre will be performed IN England"
Has the property been actually boughl?"
"The purchase is not finally completed but
will be as soon as the mail matter am des-
patching by the packet on Tuesday reaches
England. II everything goes satisfactorily
we hope to commence planting and have mat
tiers 10 working order by LIST August"