149 
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The Pacific coast forms no exception to the general expression. 
A correspondent in Salem, Oregon, says: “We have had a remarkably fine 
winter, and all growing crops are in splendid condition. There has been little 
snow or cold weather, and at no time, thus far, has ice formed to the thickness 
of a quarter of an inch. Upon the whole, I consider Oregon the finest country 
and climate in the United States.” 
AMOUNT OF WOOL ON HAND. 
As the result of general inquiries relative to the stock of wool on hand, it is 
found that in most localities the greater portion was sold during the year. Yet 
a considerable quantity remained on hand at the time of the passage of the late 
tariff, the most of which has since been sold by farmers. In many places but 
two to five per cent. of the clip was reported in farmers’ hands. In some places 
ten per cent. or more; in a few others twenty-five to fifty per cent. 
In Franklin county, Massachusetts, three-fourths of last crop, and half of that 
of 1865, are reported on hand; $1 05 per pound having once been refused for 
some of it. 
In Tompkins county, New York, more wool was held over than usual. Some 
have their whole clip. 
In Eau Claire county, Wisconsin, “all of last year’s and much of three years’ 
clip ” 
THE “RAMIE.” 
Letters have been received in the department relative to a fibrous plant called 
“Ramie,”’ or the Boehmeria tenacissima, which was 4ntroduced in March from 
Mexico into New Orleans, where it is said to be growing finely. It was intro- 
duced into Santocomapan, near Vera Cruz, twelve years ago, as is claimed, by 
Benito Roezl, an Austro-Belgian botanist, and propagated extensively. 
A paper has also been received upon the same subject, which was read by A. 
B. Bacon before the New Orleans Academy of Sciences. Mr. Bacon, in a letter 
dated April 30, says of his experiment with a specimen: “I put the root in the 
ground in my garden March 23. The plant is now about four inches high, and 
seems to grow vigorously.” 
Another gentleman, in a second letter from New Orleans, says: “It is claimed 
here that it is impossible to propagate it from seed, but that it can be propagated 
from cuttings. From other sources I am led to the belief that this latter idea, 
at least, is erroneous.” 
It seems to be creating a local sensation, and to be generally regarded in that 
quarter as a new discovery fraught with good to the south. It may possibly 
prove to be agriculturally remunerative. ‘There is no doubt of its great excel- 
lence and value as a fibre. But it is to be hoped that those interested in propa- 
gating it will descend to no mystification of the public as to its character and 
identity. . 
It produces a fibre well known commercially, for an indefinite period wrought 
into fabrics of great beauty and strength in all the principal countries of the 
east, and for many years manufactured in Great Britain. It belongs to the 
nettle family, ( Urticacia,) and this species is now known as Boehmeria, and 
was christened by Dr. Roxburgh, an eminent botanist, B. tenacissima, from its 
toughness. Other botanists gave it the name B. xivea. Sir William Hooker 
declared positively that the names were synonymous; that the plants so named 
were identical. Dr. Shaeffer, librarian of the Patent Office, who wrote in the 
Agricultural Report of 1855 concerning it, still regards the B. Nivea and B. 
tenacissima as identical. If it were conceded that they were sub-varieties of 
the same species, it would not be a practical difference; for the fibre is the same, 
its uses and price the same, and the fabrics manufactured from it are known as 
