RAMIE CULTIVATION IN PERAK. 118 



SiGLAP ESTATK, 8INGAFUKK, 



17th March, 1897. 

 Dear Sir, 



To put in bolder relief the absurdity of the process of working ramie 

 which I attempted to draw out in my yesterday's letter I should have put 

 it under figures, and I beg to do so now, because the advocacy of such 

 processes has consequences which may do an immense deal of harm to the 

 cause of ramie. Several natives round about Singapore, allured by their 

 simplicity (?) have started ramie planting on a small scale up to two acres 

 or so, and have come to me, asking me how to dispose of their crops when 

 they mature. I point out to them the utter folly of the attempt, but the 

 harm is done. I have long ago made these objections to people at home, 

 but if I have had a reply, which has not often been the case, it has been a 

 snubbing. It is important then, to point out to natives that ramie cannot 

 be worked on these lines, that their time will only come when large estates 

 open up and set up their niachines ; then they may probably find a market 

 for their stems, and this is my object in putting the operation under 

 figures. One ton of ribbons, as shewn, requires 180,000 stems. 



$ c. 

 Cutting, stripping the leaves, and bundling for cartage, 



180,000 stems at 5,000 stems per day of 25 cents ... 9 00 



Cartage, 15 to 18 tons of stems ... ... ... ... 6 00 



Boiling (as only a tank of the dimensions of Charing 

 Cross Baths could contain 180,000 stems, the boiling 

 must be done in lots of say 10,000 at a time, in 

 tanks of at least 10 tons capacity, which means 18 

 tanks, or 18 boilings in one tank). 



Filling in one tank with water, (two men at 25 cents, 



50 cents,) 18 tanks 9 00 



Emptying (one tank, one man, half a day, 13^ cents) 18 

 tanks 



Putting in 10,000 stems (one man at 25 cents) 18 tanks 



One Fireman, and Firewood ... 



Taking out 10,000 stems hot (two men at 25 cents) 18 



tanks 9 00 



Stripping 180,000 stems, at 150 stems per hour, or 1,500 



per day of 25 cents ... .., ... ... ... 30 00 



Spreading to dry, and drying (a very delicate and diflBcult 

 operation) ... 



Straightening the ribbons, and bundling them ... 



Packing and baling one ton ... 



Freight (ribbons cannot be pressed, and they bulk largely) 



per ton to London ... ... ... ... ... 15 00 



109 75 



Cost of cultivation and management, rent, etc., on a little 



less than one acre, minimum ... ... ... ... 40 00 



Co8t of, in London, per ton of ribboua ... 1-49 75 



