86 
The United States Department of Agriculture has organised a 
systematic series of experiments in different sections of the co untry, 
_ and these are likely to pons very interesting results. Mr. Richa rds 
Dodge’s report (No. 7) already mentioned contains a large mass of 
very useful information. In fact, it may be regarded as containing, 
from the American point of view, all that is known practically of the 
cultivation and treatment of China grass. 
PLANTING. 
The following is extracted from the Voreign Office Report, Annual 
Series, 1897, No. 2017, p. 8 :— 
The cultivation of the Ramie plant Lprobaty China grass], the 
fibre of wtih is superior to flax, on the lands owned by the Imperial 
domains at Chakva, near Batoum, i is attracting a aad deal of attention 
just present. The climate and soil of the low-lying land in that 
locality appears to a this plant extremely well, and within two years 
it has aai te o great an extent that the Administration of the 
Imperial domain lendi is able to furnish a considerable quantity of the 
isd stalks to the Government Paper Mills at St. Petersburg, where it 
is to be seneg in the manufacture of the paper from which rouble notes 
and Lge gee bill of Stee forms are made.” 
already stated, both China grass and Ramie have been grown 
anii in Jamaic ca, and a Age useful Memorandum has been 
published by Mr. W. Fawcett, F.L.S.,in the Bulletin of the Botanical 
acciment agpi pp. Ba. This sues also, a Report of the 
a Committee with reference to.a prospective trial of the Allison 
Fi me re M kt. The following extracts give the cultural results 
obtained in Jamaica (Report of the Director, 1894-95, pp. 221-224) :— 
“ From experience €I think there is little reason to doubt that the best 
part of the plant to propagate from is the bottom of the ripe stem. Ifa 
ped, an 
canes should be reaped, cutting them to within two inches of the ground. 
Some one should then follow and grub out the remainder of the stalk, 
going low enough, if possible, to secure a little root on it. This will 
generally give a piece about 4 inches long, and if inserted into the 
ground with about half an inch left above the surface will make astrong 
}lant in an incredibly short space of time. The old plants will be all 
the better for the removal of the stems for propagating. In the event 
The piece > which was planted 3 3 feet apar art is now so thick as almo st to 
prevent any weeds growing, except when the crop is reaped. > 
For a long period Rhea has been grown in small quantities by the 
natives of Assam. A note on its cultivation was issued by the 
Agricultural Department, Assam, in April, 1897. This was prepared 
by Mr. F. J. Monahan, Officiating Director of Lands Records and 
hoi ture. He states that the Rhea of Assam - at the arene my is 
Behmeria nivea. 
