5i 



intercourse between the state of the British Empire. Perhaps 

 some of our readers may feel disposed fo assist the Editor in the 

 way he asks. 



Editor. 



THE RAMIE GROWING ASSOCIATION 



This Association suggested a short time ago has now crystallized 

 into a solid entity under the patronage of a number of wellknown 

 people, with Professor ERIC DRABBLE as Scientific Adviser. The 

 circular states that it is proposed to form a Ramie Growing Associa- 

 tion to foster the growth of Ramie throughout the Empire and thus 

 add a valuable asset to British Agriculture commerce and industry. 

 Mr. Edwards Radclyffe the Honorary Secretary of the Associ- 

 ation writes in his usual style concerning the cultivation of the plant, 

 and its value most of which is wellknown to our readers, having been 

 published and criticised in the Bulletin. The entirely erroneous 

 statement that it is an easy crop to grow anywhere and that the 

 fibre can be produced profitably at £10 a ton, still appears. 



There is no doubt that if the Association gets to work as steadily 

 as the Cotton Growing Association has done, and after the manner 

 adopted for such Agricultural and Commercial industries as is done 

 in Germany and elsewhere in the Continent, Ramie cultivation will 

 at least have a good trial whether it succeeds on a large scale or 

 fails. Nothing however will really come of it unless an intelligent 

 Agriculturist versed in tropical and sub-tropical cultivations is first 

 deputed to make an extended visit to all parts of the Empire, to 

 find out why in so many parts of the world, a cultivation com- 

 menced some fifty or more years ago and tried on and off on large 

 and small scales by a large number of professional Agi" ; ulturists 

 has steadily and persistently failed to give any returns at all. 



Attention is just now being paid more and more to fibre plants 

 as the demand increases and the supplies do not, and there is 

 probably a good future for Ramie, but it is absolutely essential 

 that the pamphlets sent out by the Association are accurate and 

 not misleading. Figures based on the cheapest labour 1 1 the world 

 as that of China cannot be safe for countries where labour is five 

 or six times as expensive, when dealing with a plant which requires 

 a great deal of labour, like Ramie. 



In many parts of the world Ramie has received a very bad 

 reputation among planters, and it is essential for the purpose of 

 the Association that planters advised by their pamphlets should 

 not experience further serious disappointments owing to misleading 

 statements in their publications. 



If the case is put fairly before planters, further attempts to 

 grow the plant will undoubtedly be made, and we may hope with 

 considerable success. 



In any case if the members of the Association thoroughly study 

 "ie question of cultivation in all parts of the Empire and under all 



