128 RAMIE 



YIELD 



From two to four or even six cuttings of the stems 

 can be obtained annually according to the climate 

 and other conditions of the locality in which the crop 

 is grown. It is estimated that from two cuttings 

 the yield of fresh stems per acre amounts to about 1 5 

 to 20 tons, giving i ton of dry ribbons. The ribbons 

 furnish about 50 per cent, of their weight of degummed 

 fibre or filasse, and hence the yield of filasse per acre 

 amounts to approximately 7^ 10 cwts. per annum. 



CHARACTERS AND USES 



Ramie fibre is one of the strongest known. It is 

 extremely durable, and is said to be less affected by 

 moisture than any other fibre, but is somewhat lacking 

 in elasticity. The fibre has a brilliant, silky lustre, 

 can be dyed readily, and is exceptionally long. The 

 filasse consists of isolated ultimate fibres or small 

 groups of fibres. The ultimate fibres vary from 3 to 

 1 6 inches in length, and from 0*0008 to 0*003 inch 

 in diameter, the average diameter being about 0*0015 

 inch or about twice as great as that of cotton fibre. 

 The fibres taper towards each end, but the ends 

 themselves are rounded. They are thick-walled, 

 have a well-marked lumen and bear longitudinal 

 striations and occasional transverse markings. The 

 fibre substance consists of non-lignified cellulose. 



Ramie fibre offers certain difficulties in the pro- 

 cesses of manufacture, one of which is its tendency 

 to cling to the rollers in the operations of drawing and 

 spinning. At one time, manufacturers attempted to 

 spin the fibre with machinery suitable for cotton, 

 wool, or flax, but these efforts ended in failure. It was 

 realised eventually that success in ramie spinning 

 could only be attained by the use of machinery 

 specially adapted to the manipulation of the fibre. 

 Such machines have now been invented, and their 

 employment has rendered it possible to utilise ramie 

 fibre with commercial success. 



China grass is used extensively in China for the 



