135 



starting from page 356. There is much truth in the contentions 

 of the London Correspondent to Pioneer and he has erred in so far 

 he has under staled the case. I must respectfully differ with the 

 Editor's note on page 359, and I would ask you to read enclosed 

 cutting from the Draper Textile Mercury Magazine of Commerce. 

 It is absurd to expect buyers to contract till they know what the 

 planter can produce. The planter is afraid to experiment. It is 

 in his power to start cautiously if he will and prove his produce 

 can be used but he cannot expect Costly Machinery to be fitted 

 here in the hope he will at some future time feed it. There are 

 more mills riow than the Indian Crops can supply. This is proved 

 by the high prices obtained for Raw Material. I note Mr. BAXEN- 

 DALE tries retting and expects same result with Ramie from Flax 

 methods. Treat Ramie as it should be not as one does other fibres. 

 Filasse Ramie on the plantation. Till this is done all the disappoint- 

 ments mentioned bv Mr. BAXENDALE will continue. First there is 

 the loss in freight and not least the greater difficulty and expense 

 in treating Ribbons. Why not produce as the Chinese do if your 

 planter won't filasse, but I expect the ribbons were brown "Rhea' 

 ribbons as they are know n by here and though I can treat them, 

 I must admit the China supplies yield better results. But even 

 brown ribbons would find a regular market and if Mr. BAXENDAL1 

 will guarantee regular supplies I can assure him a demand. I note 

 Mr. BAXENDALE thinks it is the spinner who has to be con- 

 verted. Let me assure him the trade are anxious for supplies but 

 cannot get planters to guarantee supplies. Xo mill can work with 

 intermittent feeding, the quantity and quality must be regular. 

 Mr. BAXENDALE's idea of the quantity used in incandescent gas 

 mantle is quite misleading, I know factories that have orders booked 

 6 months ahead. If your planters are prepared to supplv one thou- 

 sand tons per week I am able to find them customers. What 

 produce does Mr. BAXENDALE refer to, as far as I can gather he 

 has 400,000 plants, how far could that go towards keeping a mill 

 employed, but even that small amount if sent regularly will he 

 taken. Mr. BAXENDALE talks of small farmers wanting hydraulic 

 presses, &c, as well as talk of farmers establishing mills to grind a 

 few acres of corn. When the growers are there then the middle 

 man will be there to collect filasse bale <Scc M <Scc. As to not recom- 

 mending the Government to take the matter up, this rests with \ oui 

 Colony, but you will find to your cost the trade will be captured 

 by others; already the German Government are subsidising their 

 African Colonies and encouraging Ramie production, and the 

 French are capturing the Indian planters for the supplies now 

 being grown in India are for French markets. Mr. BAXENDALE'S 

 results should suffice to convince anyone. /.18 13^. .p/. per acre 

 what other crop produces it. I would suggest you print and cir- 

 culate the Article I send you from the Draper. All the proof you 

 want is obtainable. It is quite true a very different state of things 

 exists now than when Mr. BAXENDALE was lure. How is it the 

 Japs and Chinese do so well with Ramie. That should suffice to 

 fprove there's an Industry lurking at your door. Once Ramie take s 



