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ofiered a prize of £5,000 for a thoroughly capable machine, it 

 would appear by the following extracts from the report of the 

 Secretary for Agriculture, Washington (Mr. J. M. Rusk, 1890), 

 that no machinery had been invented that would decorticate and 

 prepare the fibre at a sufficiently cheap rate to enable it to com- 

 pete with fibres of similar character, and according to still later 

 reports on the subject the difficulty still exists. Mr. Rusk 

 says — " Practically the culture of ramie is at a stand-still both 

 here and in Europe, the knotty problem of economical decortica- 

 tion of the stalks when grown not having received satisfactory 



solution To those who know nothing of the story, 



it may be briefly stated that' the invention of machinery and pro- 

 cesses for the extraction and cleaning (degumming) of ramie 

 fibre in the last 30 years in the various countries where experi- 

 ments are going on might foot up a hundred or more could the 

 ■ entire catalogue be enumerated. In spite of the vast inventive 

 eifort, ramie up to the present time has not been grown in any 

 country (excepting China and Japan) save in a limited way, 

 because no machine or process for decortication thus far has been 

 presented that has filled all the requirements demanded of a 

 thoroughly practical decorticator." Mr. Rusk adds — " It should 

 be stated that while little of importance has been done in the past 

 year (1890) which would give evidence of progress in culture, there 

 are indications that some considerable areas will be planted during 

 the coming season. The interest is greatest in the states of 

 Louisiana, Texas, and California. Should a practical decorticator 

 be presented during the coming season, or should any of those 

 now under experiment fulfil the requirements of the economically 

 successful machine, ramie culture is in favorable condition, I 

 think, for early establishment of the industry." Since the publi- 

 cation of Mr. Rusk's report I have frequently endeavoured to 

 ascertain from correspondents in the United States whether 

 any new process had been discovered for degumming the ramie 

 in an economic way, but the answers have always been in the 

 negative. 



The cultivation of ramie in Victoria presents no difficulties 

 as far as suitable soil and climatic conditions are concerned. A 

 free rich light soil, a fair amount of summer heat and moisture, 

 are all the plant requires. Where irrigation can be applied, of 

 course the greater the crop ; but free drainage is absolutely neces- 

 sary, as the roots will not bear stagnant moisture. The laud 

 -should be well ploughed to a depth of 10 or 12 inches, cross 

 harrowed, and made ready for planting by the end of September, 

 ■or when the frosts have disappeared. Immediately before planting 

 the ground should be thoroughly scarified, brush harrowed, and 

 rendered perfectly free from weeds. From half-an-acre of plants 

 •three years old sufficient roots can be obtained to furnish 10 acres. 



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