RAMIE. 49 



cultivated to better advantage, so that constant supplies may be avail- 

 able, and that fibres of various growths, kinds, and grades may be 

 ready for the spinner to select from. 



The cultivation of the ramie plant has been encouraged by the 

 Indian Government, and the governments of other countries ought to 

 follow in the same "direction. It is of little use sending the stems to 

 EngiqjjiJxtoVbe cleaned by machinery, except in cases of experiment; 

 its cultivation should be fostered in the countries most suitable to its 

 growih. It is essential, too, that" the preparation and splitting of 



Fig. 29. Ramie plant (Boehmeria nivea, vav. tenacissima). 



the stems by mechanical methods, .and the cleaning and degumniing 

 of the cortical and bast tissues of the stem, should also be done in 

 the country or district where the plant is endemic. 



The culture of the plant ought to be carried out exactly after the 

 manner of that of the cotton plants, with due regard to the development 

 of the stem and phloem structures, for which object the cutting or 

 pruning of the plant at the most convenient time is of great importance. 



The ramie strings of fibres as imported to this country for the spinner 

 or manufacturer are often defective. 



Fig. 30 shows some of these fibres adhering closely to one another. 

 When they arrive in this state they have a dull brownish hue, and a 

 roughness and opacity which indicates that fibres have been allowed to 

 continue to adhere together instead of having been separated. When 



4 



