some of which 1 haw had will, at /,i8 a ton after wastage and 

 cleaning charges are met, come in at less than good f.iir flax yarn. 

 From samples of Ramie ribbon grown in the Straits Settlements 

 where I understand it can be cut about 6 times a year I should 

 think that £18 a ton for it as taken off the stem ought to pay the 

 grower especially if little hand labour is employed in removing the 

 peel or ribbon from off the stem. In all Ramie that I have seen and 

 handled this could be vastly improved. The luxuriant specimens 

 that I have had from the Straits, show that the country is an ideal 

 spot for Ramie culture. The only drawback is the moist climate 

 a matter that is easily overcome in this country where most of the 

 yarns have to be dried artifically and Ramie fibre could be tackled 

 there in similar lines and be sent in to the manufactures readv for 

 use. The idea of a trade of any dimensions ever springing up in 

 raw-ribbon may be abandoned as these lose in removing the bark 

 and gum 40% and in baling must occupy two-thirds more space 

 than the clean article would do. I have seen it stated that manu- 

 facturers prefer to get their ribbon without being prepared in any 

 way. That may be for small pottering concerns making special arti- 

 cles at enormous prices. For even such it would be better and cheaper 

 to get Ramie with the bark and gum removed and the fibre in a 

 condition that they could give it any extra finish that was needed if 

 Mr. BAXENDALE has not already done so. It would interest your 

 readers to learn I have no doubt the height of fibre that a fair 

 specimen plant will annually yield in the form of raw-ribbon as I 

 estimate that at one pound per plant he will have 180 tons worth 

 at £18 a ton £3,240, All that is needed to make Ramie the huge 

 success that it will and deserves to be, is the knowledge amongst 

 growers of how to remove the ribbon trom the stem in quantity with- 

 out hand labour, after this is done to be able to get rid of the outer 

 brown bark and gum cheaply and effectively. The grower has to 

 get all this information for nothing as by paying for it he would 

 be only putting his hand in his pocket for the benefit of others ; 

 although in a very short time he could do all that I say. Those who 

 could make this plain to him will not do so as few care to give away 

 for nothing knowledge gained by expense as well as time and trou- 

 ble so that I think this the Radclyffe banner with its gay motto of 

 Floreat Ramie will have to hang limp round its pole until some 

 philanthropic soul pulls into practice without money and without 

 price fee or reward the things that he professes to do and cannot. 

 Excuse my going into this matter at such length. The question of 

 Ramie -treatment has been magnified by inventors and patentees 

 who have even the best of them been a hindrance instead of a 

 help to a fibre which on economic grounds could when intelligently 

 handled from stem to finish excel all others except jute in cheap- 

 ness and returns. 



I am yours, <x c, 

 JAMES ANDERSON, 

 6, Hillend l\oa<L 



Arbroath, X. />'. 



