6 CIRCULAR 5 8 5, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



The removal of heavy yields of vegetative matter makes ramie a 

 very serious soil-nutrient-depleting crop. Unless fertility is main- 

 tained in some way, poor yields are evident the second year or very 

 soon thereafter. After the fiber has been prepared, the waste should 

 be returned to the field. This would eliminate some of the expense 

 of applying commercial fertilizer. It is difficult to recommend any 

 general fertilizer formulas that would apply to all fields. However, 

 it is essential to maintain in the soil an adequate supply of the three 

 important elements common in most fertilizers, namely, nitrogen, 

 phosphorus, and potassium. The soil nitrogen supply may be de- 

 pleted quickly by ramie on sandy soils. Potash has given very bene- 

 ficial results upon peat soils of the Everglades. In Japan" heavy 

 applications of compost and night soil have been used, and in China 

 manure. In the United States commercial fertilizers should be used 

 to maintain the fertility. 



CULTURE 



Ramie is usually propagated by pieces of rootstocks commonly 

 called roots. The pieces of roots about 6 inches long serve the 

 purpose well but involve more labor and expense in setting out a field 

 than in planting a field of corn. The roots are usually planted in 

 a slanting or upright position with the upper end l"or 2 inches 

 below the surface. Under favorable conditions of moisture and tem- 

 perature the roots send up shoots in 2 weeks' time. The roots are 

 most often set out in rows 3 to 6 feet apart and spaced 18 to 24 

 inches apart in the row. 



Ramie seed may be used in planting but has some disadvantages 

 for field planting. Ramie seed is not apt to breed true, and the 

 resulting plants from seed represent many different types, which 

 may not give the uniformity to the field of growth or time of har- 

 vesting that can be obtained by using one strain of rootstock. Fur- 

 ther, the seed is difficult to obtain and may be expensive. The seeds 

 are extremely small, and there are likely to be several million of 

 them to a pound, although the number may be much smaller because 

 of the presence of immature seeds and trashy flower parts. The 

 very small seeds require special attention when planted in the seed- 

 bed so that they will not be placed too deep, so that the soil will not 

 become dry on the surface where the seeds are sprinkled, and so that 

 the damping-off disease will not become established in the seedbed. 

 This disease develops under the warm, damp conditions favorable 

 for the ramie seed growth. In addition to these difficulties encoun- 

 tered in the seedbed, the small seedlings when transplanted may die 

 in warm, dry weather. All of these difficulties with the seed can be 

 overcome, however, with proper conditions and care. The field 

 planted with seedlings will not be productive the first year, whereas 

 the field planted with roots may give one or more cuttings the first 

 year. 



In China and Japan the plants are cultivated by hand. In the 

 United States the culture in experimental plots has been with com- 

 mon cultivators the first few years to keep down the weeds. Old 

 plantings of ramie should be cultivated to break up the root-bound 

 soil, promote soil aeration, and improve the physical and chemical 

 soil structure, all of which are necessary for best results. 



