274 
of Methods (mechanical and chemical) for preparing the fibre of the 
Ramie plant. The order was based on the fact considerable 
interest was taken in the cultivation of the Ramie plant in Algeria and 
rench Colonies generally, and that it was a ma e of nationa 
importance to solve the problem of preparing Ramie fibre so as to bring 
it within the reach of commercial enterpris 
The competition was, in the first EES fixed for the 15th August, 
but it was afterwards E ee to the 25th September on account of 
the unfavourable season whic een experienced for the growth of 
the Ramie plant intended to be ae in the trials. 
IMPORTANCE OF THE RAMIE QUESTION. 
s well known that the production of the fibre of Ramie in com- 
Seii quantities, and in an economical and remunerative manner, has 
Bae uedo ne of the most important industrial problems of the present 
da t been keenly followed in nearly every part of the world; 
y. P 
x: e out efforts hitherto made have been confined to India, to the 
ian Dosen to the United States, and more recently to 
cem ance si her Col 
The tsi ot pes nearly 20 years ago, was led to offer a 
reward of l. for the best method for sed ao fibre and 
— it ina seule condition for textile parpos It was led to 
this step by the conviction that the only obstacle to "the development 
e 
means for decorticating the plant. This was the third time 
had become the Subject of official action. The first effort for utilising 
this plant was in 1803, when Dr. Roxburgh started the question; the 
second was in 1840, when attention was directed to it by water 
Jenkins. The offer of 5,0007. in 1869 induced many competi 
enter their names, but it was found that no machine fully fulfilled "tbe 
conditions laid = own by the Government, and therefore the full prize 
wa 
s not ay Other unsuccessful attempis were subsequently 
made, and eventually the offer of ~~ was withdra 
Since that time many thousands «d unds a = spent pim 
fibre. ber processes have m: brought forward fr eto time 
and it was claimed for each of — that mor um Bo erii the 
hopes of their inventors. But ising as these processes 
om 
were, they do not appear to have pem introduced | tin regular use, and 
only one or two have at all come into promin 
Naturally the earlier attempts to prepare pcm fibre had followed 
the methods already in use in preparing flax, hemp, and jute; but it 
was soon evident that as regards Ramie these methods were useless, 
i. a v ey fibre of the Ramie plant is embedded in a gummy 
offer e greatest obstacle to the production of clean and 
bright dreads inue for the spinner. 
e ARRANGEMENTS FOR Paris TRIALS. 
The nee tis International de la dee recently held at Paris, 
toek place in one of the annexes of the proposed exhibition of 1889 
on the Quai d'Orsay epus de ? ABK y^ was attended by represen- 
tatives from all-parts of the world. 
