QUERIES AND ANSWERS. 25 



time, if its tendrils cau seize upon the juicy stems of clover, flax, hops, 

 tomatoes, onions and many otlier plants, they will attach themselves to 

 these plants and cease to continue their attachment to the soil. The 

 color of the plant is yellow, and it produces closely packed heads of bell- 

 shaped white and pink flowers sometimes quite sweet scented. 



110. Q. What is ramie ? Ramie. 

 A. It is a plant, a native of China and adjacent countries, and of value 



as producing a bark containing a fibre in many respects supposed to be 

 equal to flax. 



111. Q. In what States can ramie be grown ? Ramie. 

 A. Very successfully in any of the cotton States. The roots once 



planted last for many years. 



113. Q. How many tons of the dry green bark can be produced to the Green Bark. 

 acre and at what value ? 



A. On good bottom land two to three crops can be grown. To each 

 cutting from 500 to 1000 pounds, worth five cents per pound. 



113. Q. Has the manufacture of ramie fabric yet become an established Manufacture. 

 process ? 



A. Not yet, though many mills are making experiments in de-gumming 

 imported ramie bark known as China grass and in spinning the thread 

 and weaving tissues. 



114. Q. Give directions for starting or forcing Vegetable or Flower Forcing 

 seeds in the house ? Seeds. 



A. When it is desired to hasten the development of plants, they may be 

 sown in the conservatory or in boxes within the house. Those who have 

 greenhouses hardly need directions, but for those who have had lees 

 experience we drop the following hints : 



Procure shallow boxes, trays, or broad pots from two to four inches 

 deep ; the bottoms permitting the free passage of water, else the earth 

 will bake and become sour. Seeds will not germinate satisfactorily or 

 thrive in a wet soil. Prepare a mixture of one-third leaf-mold cut fine, 

 one-third clean sand, and one-third finely pulverized stable manure ; 

 moisten the mixture thoroughly, and fill into the boxes to within a half 

 inch of the top — gently patting down the surface to a level. Upon this 

 distribute the seed, and cover just out of sight, by sifting over the seed 

 the finest eartli procurable, settling the seed down with a fine spray of 

 water shaken from a brush, a heavier application baking the surface. 

 Place the boxes where they will remain at a temperature of between 60° 

 and 70°, applying water with a brush or fine rose when the surface be- 

 comes dry. When the seedlings are half an inch high, they may be 

 transplanted to other boxes, placing the tiny plants about one to each 

 square inch. When these become so large as to crowd each other, they 

 should again be transplanted to the garden or to other boxes according to 

 the season. 



115. Q. What is a hotbed ? Hotbed. 

 A. It is a box or frame without bottom or top, made for one, two or 



