The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-24
THE RAMIE INDUSTRY.
Interest Manifested Concerning Ex-
periments with the Fibre.

New 1Ork POST.
Reports through tho State Department
and private letters concerning the expert
ments with ramie or rhea grass more COM
monty known as China grass), already re-
ported, are creating considerable interest
in this country, and manufacturers are
studying the process. While the culture
and treatment are not new industry by
any means. it has never received much ina
petuS here.
The scientific name of the rhea plant is
Urtica or Boehmeria nivea or tenacissima;
rhea fibre, China grass, karso, and China
tschu-ma. An authority safes that the plant
resembles the European nettle, and is pecu-
liarly adopted to tropical or semi-tropical
climates. The root is perennial, and the
plant itself shoots from four to six feet
above the ground each year. The fibre is
of the plant what is known as Boehmeria
nivea is product of India and China, and
has gained the name of "China grass"
Boehmeria tenacissima Is considered of
great value and has been one of the chief
textile plants in Southern Asia, Sunda'
Islands, Malacas. Mariana Islands. and Chi
ma and Japan for many years This species
Is called rhea, because 1T has different
kind Of down on the back of the leaf. The
two species have been transplanted and ex-
perimented with in Brazil, the United
States. Mexico. Australia. Northern Africa
ana IN some parts OF Europe with indiffer-
ent results.
given the plant and its possibilities the
study Of a lifetime, is authority for the
statement that the reason ramie has made
little Roadway is that the stalks of the plant
have been treated while green and sappy
before the fibre had time to cure and be-
come liked, soft and fine. Mr.: Raabe has
overcome many difficulties ill the trea tment
of the fibre, and has invented machinery
which is a commercial success. 1t removes
the bark and waste part and returns
perfect condition, and by the same means
yarns are now being turned out at a cost
materially below that Of hemp or fax. STAN
NJ md xxrl< t.
all fibres, believes that ramie can be profit
ably cultivated in ALL the Southern States
But in the countries mentioned above it
grows wild, and what cultivation will do
Is now matter of conjecture. Ramie
forms peculiar combination in its worth
srong a plant and Is said b to be
frmness equals flax Cultivation, it is
claimed, would improve both qualities: in
fact, the little ramie now cultivated in east
ern Asia is manufactured into the most
expensive cloths, but they are not ex-
ported. on account of their high price
"A history of the plant shows that in
1870 few plants were shipped from India
to England, where they were treated and
used in the manufacture of rope. In 1853
as valuable in the far East, and was spun
into some of the finest Counts of flax
yarns. as high as Nos. 24O $50 and 200.
premium of 5000 was offered by the Indian
government for a machine to work ramie
to produce fibre that could be spun into
ydIIi II appears tHdt the premium IS Stlil
unclaimed. but possibly this is due to the
eXactionS of the reward.
The harvesting of the plant is another
matter that was to be considered. Overripe
| fibres are said to be harsh and brittle, and
that Of course. makes them unsatisfactory
for textile purposes. The plant must be
cut when fully developed. but before form
ing seed and beginning to die. IT is, therefore.
of the utmost Importance to those who con-
template the culture of the plant to ex-
tend the harvesting over several DAYS and
to limit the cutting TO only properly matured
stalks, which insures uniformity of stalks
and fibre.
Regarding ramie yarns and cloths it can
be said that the Castlefield mills, owned by
James Linlay & Co., Derby. Eng, are
operating a mill devoted entirely TO the
| spinning of ramie yarns, and this same con-
Germ has gone even SO far as to send one OF
its representatives TO Belfast, Ireland, 10
place before the most celebrated linen man
ufacturers the availability and value OF
ramie spinning. Consul James y. fancy, OF
Belfast, says that ii is estimated that by
mixing ramie with linen an excellent cloth
can be produced from II. to Is per cent
cheaper, and while equally merchantabe
an article that meets the popular demand