210 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



RAMIE OR CHINA GRASS. 



A TEXTILE PLANT. 



Ramie is a perennial plant of the nettle tribe ( Urticea). It is also called 

 " Boehmeria," from the name of the botanist who first classified it. 



Though kindred to hemp it is far superior in value, inasmuch as it is 

 perennial. It grows like the willow, and sends forth numerous stalks sev- 

 eral times a year; the roots run deep into the ground, and the stalks attain 

 a height of from five to six feet, according to soil and climate; it draws its 

 nutrition from the air as much as from the ground. The annual yield is 

 from two to three, and even four crops, according to latitude. 



Ramie grows in a temperate climate and requires a porous soil free from 

 swampy subsoil, which might rot the root. Every State of the Union, but 

 those of the extreme north, can easily produce ramie. The only risk is, 

 that the first Winter may be very severe, which might hurt the young roots. 

 This danger can be obviated by mulching the rows with stable manure 

 and straw. 



The ground must be well prepared by plowing and harrowing. The 

 jjlanting can be done at any season of the year, but especially from Sep- 

 tember till the middle of November. The first crop can thus be obtained 

 in May next. 



The ramie plant is preeminently abundant in fiber, and furthermore, has 

 the great advantage of a rapid self-propagation with fragments of root or 

 of stalk by cuttings. 



We do not recommend the long and tedious method of raising through 

 seed. We advise to start planting by roots, and as early as possible before 

 Winter. 



One or two acres thus planted in September or October will secure an 

 ample nursery for an extensive plantation the following year. 



The soil being properly prepared, the ramie roots are planted in the 

 same way as potatoes, at a depth of five inches, a foot apart from each 

 other, in furrows three feet apart. The roots must be carefully covered 

 with soil, as is done in the case of potatoes. 



To obtain a full yield, it is necessary to set out a considerable number 

 of roots. Planted as above, one acre will furnish 70 rows of 210 feet in 

 length, which, at the rate of one plant a foot, will give 14,700 roots for a 

 good planting. This will give a close planting, which is necessary for 

 thick growth and straight stalks. 



These 14,700 roots will produce on an average at least 15 stalks each, or 

 220,000 per acre at every crop. 



The crude bark of every stalk weighs i oz., consequently 128 stalks give 

 1 pound. The 220,000 stalks therefore give a total of 1,720 pounds, which, 

 at 5 cents per pound, makes a gross return of -$86 per acre for each crop. 

 This shows an annual gross return of at least $172, as two crops are sure in 

 the north; and as three to four crops can be raised in the south, the profit- 

 able nature of the cultivation of ramie can thus be seen by every one. 



The cultivation is cheap. After one good plowing and harrowing, one 

 passage of the cultivator is generally sufficient, as the plant once started, 



