JAMAICA. 



BULLETIN 



OF THE 



BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT 



New Series.] APRIL 1896. V ^rTF 



RAMIE. 



The following correspondence with Messrs. Dunlop, Mr. Radclyffe, 

 -and the Subra Fibre Syndicate, on the subject of Ramie, is published 

 for general information. 



The " cleaned Ramie fibre" mentioned in Messrs. Dunlop's letter of 

 17th October, was prepared by a chemical process by au engineer in 

 Jamaica. It illustrates the difficulty that arises in such processes, that 

 the fibre may look clean and white, but is in reality of very little 

 value, as its strength has disappeared in the chemical action. 



The sample of Ramie fibre reported on in their letter of 10 th March, 

 was in the form of ribbons. It was prepared by the Industrial School 

 Boys at Hope, by hand, according to the plan described in the Bulletin 

 for March, 1894, pages 37, first paragraph, taken from Mr Hosie's re- 

 port. The boys varied much in t ie quantity they could each clean, 

 but all of them rapidly improved. For instance, the best boy cleaned in 3 

 hours on each of 3 consecutive days, as follows : — *2 J lbs., 3 lbs. 10 oz., 

 6 lbs. 7 oz. Another boy, one of the worst who tried, cleaned on the 

 same occasions I lb. 5 oz., I lb. 10 oz., and 2 lbs. 6 oz. As about 5§ lb<. 

 green ribbons dried to weigh about 1 lb., it is scarcely possible to make 

 it pay b}* hand labour. 



However, the time has probably now arrived when it would be well 

 for those who are seriously thinking of taking up the cultivation, if 

 suitable machinery be invented, to experiment with a small patch of 

 about 1,000 roots. They would thus gain experience in the cultivation, 

 and have a stock of roots ready for regular planting when it has been, 

 demonstrated by practical tests that a workable machine has been in- 

 vented. The experience gained by an intelligent study of even such a 

 small crop will be of immense benefit if the cultivation is undertaken 

 on a large scale at a later period. 



About two years ago Mr. Hollier gave us some information about 

 the Allison machine for which he had acquired the patent rights for 

 the West Indies. He promised to submit the machine to practical 

 tests in Jamaica, and a supply of Ramie was grown in the Botanic 

 Gardens for this purpose. It is understood that the machine was 

 actually landed in the island, but so far it has not been brought for- 

 ward. The same machine was tested by the United States Department 

 of Agriculture in October, 1894, and was reported upon as "not fu 1 - 



