94 
and that the fibre is a in the form of filasse ready for being 
combed and spun into yarn. This is practically all the information so 
far obtainable in this mere It appears, however, that an effort is 
being made to rros the China grass plant (Bæhmer ia mined) and the 
Ramie or Rhea ant (B. tenacissima) in India in order to supply the 
raw article in a scrote condition to be treated by this process. The 
nr particulars are taken from the Madras Weekly Mail (July 1, 
1 96) : 
“The owners of the Gomess process, who are represented in England 
by the Rhea Fibre Treatment Company, Limited, 17, Shaftesbury 
Avenue, London, W., and in this country by the Indian Rhea Fibre 
Parent Company, Limited, Bombay, are prepared to contract for the 
purchase of large quantities of ee ribbons of bark, and in regard to 
this the London Company i. :— 
“(a.) That they ba n th material in the shape of ribbons ; 
that is, the whole bark hind atripoód from the stem, thoroughly 
dried, and Bie in bales 
“p.j That they prefer t the species Bæhmeria nivea, but that they 
can also use the Behmeria tenacissima and Ban-rhea (J “iilebrdsriad 
integrifolia). 
(c.) That the quantities required by the London Company would 
be continuous and very large; that it would be difficult to give 
exact figures, but that they could do with 10,000 tons to commence 
with. 
“(d.) That they are at Taer prepared to contract at pric 
pees to from 107. to 117. per r ton, delivered in London, or at 
Tl. a ton at port of pecans in India 
Further particulars may be dbtained from a publication entitled 
“ Rhea, its Cultivation, Decortication, and Baling, and the subsequent 
“ treatment of the Ribbons by the Gomess Process,” issued by the Rhea 
Fibre Treatment Company, 17, Shaftesbury Avenue, W. 
SUMMARY. 
Few practical problems have consumed so much time and energy as 
the attempt to bring China grass and Ramie into use for manufacturing 
urposes. Notwithstanding all the expenditure of mechanical skill and 
inventive ability, the conclusion cannot be evaded that we are still as far 
off as ever from being able to place upon the market a finished product 
kisas will effectually compete with silk, flax, and the better qualities of 
co 
The plants can be grown with the greatest ease. But when the 
problem of treatment is solved, the supply of the raw material will be 
limited to warm countries. The cultivation of China grass in temperate 
regions will never be able to compete successfully with that of Ramie 
or perhaps of China in the tropics. It is known that when 
ribbons can be producel sufficiently cheaply, these can be degummed 
and turned into filasse at a small cost. The whole question then still 
sena as in 18 88, on the production of ribbons. We are still waiting 
lf a 
planter cannot profitably deal with his crop, and = degumming pro- 
cesses now almost entirely dependent on hand-cleaned fibre from China 
are paralysed for want = detena nd which will allow ne finished product 
to compete with other 
