114 RAMIE CULTIVATION IN PERAK. 



This makes no provision for building of tanks, indispensable 

 machinery, sheds, etc. 



I am, Dear Sir, 



Youi's faithfully, 

 L. Wray, Jun. Esq., (Signed) E. Mathieu. 



Perak. 



(Curator, Perak Museum, to the British Resident.') 



Taiping, Perak, 

 Sir, 25f7i March, 1897. 



I have the honour to enclose two letters which I have received from 

 Mr. E. Mathieu. 



2. You will see that lie agrees with me that it would be unwise to 

 recommend natives or others to plant ramie with the idea of selling the 

 ribbon as advised in the book you sent me by Mr. B. Eibbentrop. 



3. In regard to the other side of the question, that is the production 

 of the finished product by the planter, Mr. Mathieu's estimate is based on 

 a lower rate of wages than rule in Perak, and even then it requires the 

 production of half a ton of the cleaned fibre per acre per year to cover 

 expenses. 



•i. A Mr. Bluntschli was here the other day. He is the Manager of a 

 ramie estate in Deli, where they have planted 10 acres of the plant, and 

 where they are going to try the "Faure" machine. He, however, could not 

 tell mc anything as to the yield per acre. He came here to look for land 

 for this purpose, and I gave him the rainfall returns, which for this culti- 

 vation are much more suitable than those of Deli. He believes it will be 

 successful in a suitable climate like Larut, but admits that everything has 

 to be worked out and proved. 



5. I am of opinion that if the Government wishes to help in the 

 introduction of this culture the best thing to do is to plant up, in a 

 carefully selected spot, a small area of ramie, and collect statistics as to 

 yield, management of crop, etc. 



I have the honour to be, 

 Sir, 

 Your obedient Servant, 

 The British Re.sidext, Perak. (Signed) L. Wray, Jun. 



(Curator, Perak Museum, to Mr. E. Mathieu.) 



Taiping, Perak, 

 Dear Sir, 5th April, 1897. 



I have the honour to acknowledge, with thanks, the very interesting 

 letter you have been good enough to write on the subject of ramie. I am 

 glad to see that you agree with me that the production of ribbon at £7 or 

 £H per ton is an iuiitossibility in the Straits. 



