RAMIE t RHEA, CHINA GRASS, OR NETTLE FIBRE. 



ments are slightly and gradually grazed by 

 the beater blades, which throw out the 

 coarser of the debris still adhering. The opera- 

 tion is performed with great delicacy ; the 

 fibres assume the position of the chord of the 

 curve, and are constantly agitated by the 

 beaters. When the fibres arrive at the second 

 part of the bed, as the space between it and 

 the beaters is infinitely reduced, the entire 

 removal of matters still adhering to the fibres 

 is effected, and these latter leave the machine 

 white, parallel, and free from woody matter, 

 from skin, and from the major portion of the 

 juice. The concave bed or breast is mounted 

 in such a way that its position to the action 

 of the beaters is easily regulated. The 

 brackets which carry the bed are supported by 

 spiral spring cushions and flexible legs, the 

 object being to obtain a rubbing action between 

 the beaters and the fibre, having for its special 

 object the loosening and removal of the skin 

 or outer cuticle. The elastic bed gives way or 

 vibrates an enormous number of times per 

 minute, and this produces the described rub- 

 bing or " knuckle-joint " action between the 

 beaters and the fibres on the bed. The shape 

 of the feed bed causes it to remain clean and 

 free from extraneous matter through the action 

 of the beaters. Choking is thus rendered im- 

 possible. All abnormal strains are avoided, 

 and the machine can be kept at work from 

 morning till night without stoppages for 

 cleaning. The refuse falls underneath the 

 machine, and is removed from time to time. 

 In the case of a number of machines working 

 together, an endless band or conveyor, passing 

 under the machines, removes the refuse con- 

 tinually, and so keeps the neighbourhood of 

 the machines perfectly free from it. 



The machine is capable of being easily 

 worked by native labour in the ramie planta- 

 tions, or in works connected therewith. 

 Although simple, it needs to be constructed 

 with the greatest accuracy in order to ensure 

 effective working. The cylinder, carrying the 

 steel beaters, is perfectly balanced and accu- 

 rate in its action ; it runs at 250 revolutions 

 per minute ; the surface of the beaters is per- 

 fectly parallel with the setting of the feed-bed, 

 and capable of working close up to it, say 

 within a distance equal to the thickness of a 

 piece of writing paper. The feed bed, the 

 varying profile of which is of such enormous 

 importance in the efficacy of the machine, is 

 made with the greatest of accuracy by special 

 machinery. 



With regard to the production, practical ex- 

 perience shows that one machine, worked by 

 two men, can treat 360 Ib. of fresh green stems 

 per hour, or about 32 cwt. per day of ten 

 hours. The amount of dry fibre produced de- 

 pends largely on the nature of the stems ; 

 the percentage of fibre contained in green 

 stems varies very much according to circum- 

 stances. On a 5 per cent, basis the net pro- 

 duction of dry fibre of each machine per day 

 of ten hours is 180 Ib. When the stems are 

 specially good, 200 Ib. of dry fibre have been 

 produced per machine in ten hours. Under 

 ordinary circumstances, a production varying 

 from 160 to 200 Ib. of dry fibre in ten hours 

 per machine may be expected. Each machine 

 requires about 1 indicated horse-power to drive 

 it. When a number of machines are working 

 together less power will suffice ; thus, 8 horse- 

 power will drive ten machines. The machines 

 produce a fibre which ranks in the market 

 with China grass, by reason of its regularity 

 in condition and quality. The buyer can easily 

 see and test what he is buying. He is there- 

 fore able to give it its proper classification and 

 pay its full market value ; in addition to 

 which, by reason of the bales being well pressed 

 and containing little else than ramie fibre, the 

 freight and expenses per ton are reduced to a 

 minimum. 



Green stems grown in a tropical or sub- 

 tropical climate give the best results. The 

 growth being quick, the stems carry plenty of 

 fresh green juice, which assists the decortica- 

 tion very much by leaving the fibre freely and 

 carrying with it in its downward course from 

 the beating point of the machine large quan- 

 tities of extraneous matter. The condition of 

 the stems at the time of treatment also plays 

 an important part. In order to ensure the best 

 possible fibre, the stems should be treated 

 within a few hours of being cut. They should 

 not be over-ripe, as the fibre deteriorates after 

 the stems have arrived at maturity. The best 

 plan is to cut them either just at full maturity 

 or slightly before. The fibre thus obtained ex- 

 cels in whiteness and ductility, retains its full 

 lustre, and shows to the best advantage during 

 subsequent manufacturing operations, such as 

 preparing, combing, spinning, dyeing, etc. 



The machine has worked during all the sea- 

 sons since 1894 in the presence of experts and 

 fibre growers. In each season it has treated 

 two crops, and the fibre obtained has proved, 

 after degumming and combing, to be equal to 

 the best China grass. It is claimed for this 



