136 Transactions of the 



EAMIB. 



Second Statement of John S. Finch. 



Hayward's, Alameda County, December 28th, 1870. 



Eobert Beck, Esq.: 



Dear Sir: In accordance with the requirements of the State Agricul- 

 tural Society of which you are Secretary, I herein submit, briefly, the 

 following statement regarding the growth, cultivation, and value of the 

 " ramie plant," for premium: 



First — "As to the next previous crop," I would say that according to 

 my calculation per acre, the crop would realize nine hundred and sixty 

 (960) pounds of long bleached fiber at one cutting, and after the first year, 

 the growth of the plant will admit of three cuttings, according to the 

 experience of growers in the Southern States, which in the aggregate 

 would yield per acre a crop of two thousand eight hundred and eighty 

 (2,880) pounds, at the gross value of five thousand seven hundred and 

 sixty ($5,760) dollars, calculated at two dollars per pound, when its 

 estimated value is as high as three dollars per pound. 



Second — " The kind and condition of the soil." My ground is a heavy, 

 sandy loam, plowed twice, and not Summer fallowed. It is my judg- 

 ment that in a fine, light, rich alluvial deposit soil, properly cultivated, 

 the thrit'tiness of the plant growth is greatly enhanced, and in my judg- 

 ment it is well adapted to any character of soil fitted for the successful 

 growth of the cereals. 



Third — "The expense of planting and harvesting." Eamie plants 

 sufficient for an acre, at present prices, cost two hundred ($200) dollars 

 per acre; and for cultivating the same, say six dollars per acre; and 

 harvesting, say two dollars and fifty cents per acre. The value of the 

 crop has been estimated approximately in the first interrogatory. In 

 general terms, the prospective value of the ramie cultivation to Cali- 

 fornia is beyond computation. So valuable is its fiber as a textile fabric 

 material, admitting of admixture with silk or cotton goods, thus lending 

 strength, beauty, and fineness which has not been attained by any other 

 known material. It easily accommodates itself to our dry Summers, is 

 thrifty in its growth, easily laid down, and hardy in its nature. Time, 

 with proper machinery, and plenty of the raw material, will ultimately 

 render it the most valuable manufacturing material grown; then in all 

 truth it maybe said that "Eamie is king." One other advantage attend- 

 ing its cultivation, and of great moment, is, that it is a continuous 

 grower, perennial in its life, and needs but one planting. All of which 

 is respectfully submitted. 



JOHN S. FINCH. 



State of California, \ 



County of Alameda, j 



John S. Finch, being duly sworn, deposes and says: That he raised a 

 crop of* ramie the last past season upon two acres of land measured by 

 P. S. Moore, and that the statement annexed, subscribed by this depo- 

 nent, as to the manner of cultivation, expenses, etc., is in all respects 



