64 
“ the manufacturers of Europe. Considering the Sota with which 
“ planters in various parts of the world regard this rial, and the 
= aumoa = SA and machines which inventors ae set forth 
or its manipulation, the result of this sale must be viewed as dis- 
s “anally discouraging. would almost appear as if no true demand 
“ exists for this interesting fibre, and that, in the present attitude of 
“ the ape interest, the application of skill either to cultiva- 
“ tion of T plant or extraction of the ‘ filasse,’ is premature and 
“ misplace 
In order to understand the present condition of the Ramie industry it 
iaria be- prit to adopt some kind of classification of the details con- 
ted with i In the first place we have the mere business of 
neers ie Ramie plant, and = npor stems with the fibre in 
the best possible condition. This is purely the work of the planter. 
fibre from the stem in the form of ribbons and filasse. It is necessary 
for many reasons that this should be done either by the planter on the 
spot, or by a central factory close at hand. Thirdly, we have the purely 
technical and manufacturing process in which Ramie filasse is taken up 
by the spinners and utilized in the same manner as cotton, flax, and 
silk are utilized for the purpose of being made into fabrics 
For our present purpose we may take it for granted that the cultiva- 
tion of the Ramie plant presents no insuperable difficulty. Also that if 
a suitable selection of soil is made, and the locality possesses the neces- 
sary climatic conditions as regards heat and Seri there is no reason 
to doubt that napio co ame be papel to greater or less extent in most of 
our tropical poss As regards the second iinet in which is 
involved the docortionon of the Ramie stems—the difficulty, as shown 
above, is by no means completely solved. 
On this really hangs the whole problem. The third stage is dis- 
appointing and unsatisfactory, because the second stage is still uncertain; 
and being thus uncertain the fibre is necessarily produced in small and 
itealer Araian and only comes into the market by fits and starts. 
It would appear that e fibre differs so essentially from cotton and 
flax that it can only be manipulated and worked into fabrics by means 
of machinery specially dotiabpantad to deal with it. Owing to the com- 
paratively limited supply of Ramie fibre hitherto in the market, no large 
sib of ma painioti soj junds an it worth while to alter the present 
r put up n achin ork up Ramie fibre. If appliances, or 
seins tor decortiating Ramis i in the colonies were already devised, 
nto the market regularly, and in aa T 
say hundreds of is at a time—the ere is no doubt manufacturers would 
be fully prepared to deal with it. At present the industry i is peas 
a real i 
the fibre from the stems, and preparing it cheaply and effectively. 
cae after all, is the problem which has baffled solio for the last 50 
SEEE 
