VEGETABLE FIBEES. 



575 



per 112 pounds, the manufacturer offering $7 per 112 pounds for the crop 

 of 1878, with a i)remium of $50 in additiQU to the $7. 'Ho special reason 

 is given for this advance, unless it be the demand for twine fi'om grain- 

 binders, to which reference has been made. 



Eastern manufacturers werepayingfor American double-dressed hemp, 

 $310 to $230 per ton, about the middle of February, and for best Italian, 

 $300. On the 22d of March the prices of Kentucky hemp had advanced 

 to 14 cents per pound oji single dressed, and to 16 cents per pound for 

 double dressed, $313 to $356 per ton, with prospect of a greater rise. 



About the middle of February, of the present year, dressed flax was 

 quoted at 13 to 15 cents per pound, and broken and scutched flax, about the 

 same time, 11 cents per pound. In 1863 dressed flax averaged 28 cents per 

 pound, from that price down to 15 cents in 1870, and 10 cents in 1879. The 

 flax mills in the interior are mostly engaged in manufacturiug tow, the 

 supply of rough flax coming from the country contiguous to the mills 

 or within a radius of 12 to 15 miles. It is made from rotted straw, grown 

 mostly for the seed, and is worth as it comes from the thrashing machine 

 about $3 to $7 ])er ton, delivered at the mill. Much of this is used for 

 paper stock and for bagging, bringing about $40 per ton. Upholsters' 

 stock from green straw is worth $35 per ton ; that used for crash and 

 twine is worth $100 per ton, delivered in Kew York and Boston. Kus- 

 sian flax tow is quoted at the present writing at about $200 per ton. 



The following tables, prepared by Mr. Proctor, give minimum and 

 maximum prices of hemp and flax for twelve months of each year from 

 1864 to 1873, It will be seen that the price of Eussian hemp has de- 

 clined more than that of American: 



The price of jute and jute butts is materially higher than during the 

 previous year. Tli<^, prices quoted in retiu'us from the ciiciilars show 

 that prices range from 3 to 5h cents per pound. 



COMPETITION. 



One of the large Xew York manufacturing firms state in their reply 

 to the circular that Kentucky and Missouri hemp, beiug used only in the 

 manufacture of tarred standmg rigging for vessels, smaU lines, twines, 

 •fee, does not come in competition with any foreign hemp except Eus- 

 sian, which is used for tlie same purposes. American hemp has been 

 the cheaper of the two, however, and has driven the foreign product 

 out of the market to a great extent. Much of this quality of hemp is 



