296 



about 900-1,000 lbs. per acre. Mr. Charles Richard Dodge, of 

 the United States Department of Agriculture, is of opinion that 

 two cuttings of second years growth when properly cultivated will 

 produce 20 tons green stalks with their- leaves. Further, as each 

 ton of green stalks with leaves will yield 46 lbs. of clean dry 

 ribbons or raw fibre giving 25 lbs. of degummed fibre, we have 

 therefore a return per acre from two cuttings equal to 930 lbs. of 

 clean ribbons and 500 lbs. of degummed fibre or filasse. Xo re- 

 turns of the actual fibre have, however, been made continuously on 

 a sufficiently large scale to justify absolute confidence in them." 

 After dealing with various machines and processes of manufacture 

 the position is summed up as follows: "We are still waiting for a 

 Decorticator that will not merely turn out ribbons fit for further 

 manufacturing processes, that has been accomplished, but will turn 

 out say half a ton a day at a small cost. It is known that when 

 ribbons can be produced sufficiently cheaply these can be degum- 

 med and turned into filasse at a small cost. '1 he ribbons must be 

 susceptible of being delivered at the degumming factory at a cost 

 not exceeding £7.9 per ton. At present it cannot be done under 

 £1 2. 15 per ton. Then the degumming processes, of which there 

 are many, should turn out filasse at £36-40. To put the position 

 in other words filasse must be put on the market at about \d. per 

 pound." During the past month we have received two letters on 

 this subject, extrac ts from which we give below. One of these was 

 forwarded by Mr. ALLAN Renney, who has recently returned from 

 Europe, together with samples of spun and unspun fibre, and the 

 other from Messrs. Jules Karples & Co., Calcutta, who are desi- 

 rous of obtaining a large supply of roots for planting. 



Letter No. i. 



As you possibly are aware I have been connected with the flax 

 trade for a lifetime and in consequence know the relative merits of 

 the various economic fibres that are in use at the present time. 

 With this knowledge in view I am of opinion that there is no fibre 

 grown that has the possibilities of this King of all fibres. In 

 Ireland where land and labour are comparatively dear, an acre of 

 ground can only produce 27 stones of flax— 378 lbs., worth on an 

 average 47/ per cwt. From Ramie stems kindly sent me by Sir 

 EDWARD Laurence of Liverpool, that were grown in his conser- 

 vatory, I made the following simple calculations: From 10 of these 

 I got J of an ounce of fibre. If these had been grown under fair 

 climatic conditions it is reasonable to assume that 10 stems would 

 vield one ounce of fibre. The calculation is this, 20,000 roots 

 plant one acre, if these produce stems each at this rate the return 

 would be 1,250 lbs. per cutting. This yarn that I have handed you 

 is spun from black Ramie the very worst to treat both for waste 

 and expense. This sample is spun with the gum on the fibre 

 which I think is the most effective way of treating Ramie for ordi- 

 nary linen purposes as it can be more easily cleaned in the form 

 of yarn than in a fibrous state. Any hardness in this yarn must 

 be ascribed to the fact of the Ramie having been lying about 7 



