84 
generally used in this country ; in India, Rhea is chiefly used. This 
plant thrives only in tropical countries and it is useless to attempt to 
cultivate it elsewhere. At Kew it will only grow well when kept under 
glass all the year round. 
Both plants require good oP soil such as is found in nes eee eee 
in tropical countries. The climate should be warm and and 
without a prolonged dry season. In the systematic genta? whieh 
ina grass receives at the hands of the Chinese it is abundantly supplied 
with moisture and mema and by these means several crops are pro- 
ced in one season. Hence poor soil and rather dry situations are quite 
a aible for, growing thess plants. The relative yield of China grass and 
Ramie over large areas has not yet been definitely determined. This isa 
matter that deserves careful investigation, as also the relative quality of 
the fibres and their suitability for various textile ke e two 
plants are kept distin ot m Jamaica. Mr. W. Fawcett, F.L.S., Director 
of ae. Botanical Department in Jamaica, states :—“ The green-leaved 
“ Ramie (Baehmeria laha issi Mma) is evidently the best for low elevations, 
“while China grass with the white under-surface (Bæhmeria ee is 
“ the best for the hills. At Cinchona (4,800 feet, with a mean tempera- 
“ ture of 61:4° F.) the latter is growing 10 to 12 feet hi gh.” An regards 
difference in growth, ae r. W. Cradwick at the Hope Gardens (elevation 
600 feet, mean temp. 754° finds that the “green variety pro- 
“ duces with similar iwaenieiit “about double the number of canes per 
‘ 
In the Agricultur al Ledger (1894, No. 6, p. 4), issued by the 
Government of Indi ia, Dr. Watt draws attention to the different 
ri adh ages as regards climate between China grass and Ramie in the 
following words :— 
“lt aod obviously be a mistake to attempt the cultivation of the 
temperate-loving plant (B. nivea) in the tropical plains of India. But 
t. is actually what has be 
a China gras 
nothing towards endeavouring to extend the production of Ramie 
(B. tenacissima) which, for the sake of convenience of expression, we 
may characterise as its indigenous stock.” 
As eee other gas of difference between China grass and Ramie 
the follow ing opinion was expressed in a letter addressed by Kew to the 
India os dated the Sth May, 189 
“ Whether the fibre of Ramie is at " best really as good as the best 
China grass ( Bæhmeria nivea) is a point that appears not to have been 
under essentially tropical conditions. The question as regards India 
may easily be settled by cultivating under various conditions of climate 
and soil authentic specimens of each plant, and by instituting, as 
suggested by Dr. Watt, a careful chemical and microscopic analysis of 
the fibres yielded by Indian-grown plants of both Behmeria nivea and 
B. tenacissima.” 
r the United States, with a ry ioc ney a4 tind climate, except 
south, the plant so far cultivated is China grass 
(Behera nivea). In a “ Report ‘No. T) on res Cultivation ‘of Ramie 
n the United States,” by Mr. Chas. Richards Dodge, issued by the 
