56 
y The importance of the subject in India and the Colonies has led 
to considerable correspondence being addressed to this establishment, 
Specimens of Ramie stems, grown at Kew, have been supplied, as far 
as practicable, for experimenta] purposes in this country, and the 
Bulletin sa June 1888 (pp. 145-149) gave a summary of information 
on the subject. 
Recently "the French Government undertook a series of trials of 
methods ea EREE Ramie fibre, and on behalf of the India Office, 
Mr. D. Morris, F.L.S., the Assistant Director, was appointed to attend 
these iea nd prepare a report of the results. This report, with the 
permission of the India Office, is reproduced below 
Kew, October 24, 1888. 
In the French Journal Officiel of the 13th of April last there 
ministerial order approv ng an International Competition of 
plant. The order was based on the fact that considerable interest was 
taken in the cultivation of the Ramie plant in Algeria and Frenc 
Colonies generally, and that it was a matter of national importance to 
solve the problem m of ee Ramie fibre so as to bring it within the 
reach of commercial enterpri 
The competition was, in the “first instance, fixed for the 15th August, 
but it was afterwards postponed to the 25th Se eptember on account 0 
the unfavourable season which had been = orien for the growth of 
the Ramie plant intended to be used in the 
IMPORTANCE OF THE paar dramos 
It is well known that the produton of the fibre of Ramié in com- 
mercial quantities, and in an economical and remunerative manner, has 
constituted one of the most important SadaetGal eo of the present 
ay. It has been keenly followed in nearly every part of the world ; 
but the chief efforts hitherto made have been confined to India, to the 
West Indian herp to the United States,and more recently to France 
ar ip Colo: 
5 Goveninitnt of India, nearly 20 years ago, was led to offer a 
i of 5,000. for the best method for preparing Ramie gi and 
presenting it in a suitable condition for textile purposes. It was led to 
this step by the conviction that the only obstacle to the dev Fetopient i in 
ndia of an extensive trade in eee fibre was the ad of saina 
means for decorticating the plant. This was the third time that Ram 
had become the subject of Pii action. The first effort “tor utilising 
this plant was in 1803, when Dr. Roxburgh started the question ; the 
second was in 1840, when attentio irected t 
ue. The offer of 5,000/. in 1869 induced many competitors 
enter their names, but it was found that no machine fully fulfilled his 
aiin laid down by the Government, and therefore the full prize 
was not awarded. Other unsuccessful attempts were subsequently 
made, and eventually the offer of 5,0007. was withdrawn. 
Since that time many thousands of pounds have been spent upon the 
Rami e plant, a and the aid has been invoked of both mechanical and 
chemical science to solve the problem connected with decorticating the 
bre. Many processes have been brought forward from time to time, 
and it was claimed for each of them that they had fully realised the 
hopes of theirinventors. But promising as some of these processes were, 
they do not appear to have been introduced into regular use, and only 
one or two have at all come into prominence. 
4 
g 
wm 
Ps 
br} 
le] 
peal 
2 
© 
ie 
lon 
a 
as 
© 
pot 
© 
we 
e @ 
— 
eon 
