75 



(2.) What we recommend you to do is this : — 



Open out sample No. I which we are sending you this week through 

 Mr. Watson, and you will observe that it is the rough Fibre, with the 

 pith and bark roughly scutched off. The fibre in this state is worth, 

 about £10 to £12 per ton in London, and our opinion is — that to get it 

 to this stage the following would be the best plan to begin with for 

 the growers in Jamaica to adopt, namely : — 



To cut their stalks just between being green and brown after they 

 have been in bloom, but before the seed is formed. Pass them through 

 an old sugar roller mill so as to crush up the stalks, without destroying 

 the fibre, and then by hand labour, scutch out the pith so as to get it 

 as far as possible equal to sample No. 1. When this is done, no matter 

 what quantity there is available as soon as it is dried and ready for 

 shipment send it forward to London, even if it is only a few cwts. We 

 will then be able to tell you in a practicable manner what is the next 

 best thing to do, and that is strongly what we advise }t>u to do first of 

 all. Do not go to the expense of machines yet ; there are several ma- 

 chines being made in London and it is not until we have tried some of 

 your Fibre in London, that we can honestly recommend the best ma- 

 chine to select. 



With regard to sample No. 2. 



This is cleaned by a new patent process. The machine that does 

 this only costs £40 free on board steamer, London, and the Fibre 

 similar to sample No. 2 would be worth £20 per ton, but we do not 

 recommend you to have this machine sent you until you have secured 

 some definite report from us upon actual Ramie Fibre shipped home 

 to this side from Jamaica. 



Sample No. 3. 



This is a sample of the cleaned Fibre ready for spinning, and you 

 will see the difference at once between the texture and leDgth of this- 

 sample, and the sample which you sent over to us. 



If you could suggest anything at all by which we could be of the 

 smallest possible assistance to you, please let us know, and we will 

 gladly give the matter our best attention. 



Placing at your disposal our services, and awaiting your early news*. 

 We remain, Dear Sir, 



Yours very truly, 



Dunlop Brothers & Co. 



Messrs. Dunlop Brothers Co. to Honourable Colonial Secretar//. 



49 Fenchurch St., London, 17th Dec, 1895. 

 Ramie Fibre. 



Dear Sir, 



We had the honour of addressing you through the Mayor of Kingston, 

 Mr. S. H. Watson. Our present object is to inform you that recentlv 

 the demand of Ramie Fibre has very much increased. Not onlv has 

 the article attracted attention in Nottingham, but the best manufac- 

 turers of Belfast and Dundee are now anxious to adopt it for special pur- 

 poses. The result has been an increase of 10 per cent, in the value of 

 the raw material, and even now double the quantity available could"; be 

 at once disposed of. We are therefore naturally anxious to knsow the s 

 progress of the crop in Jamaica. We think the prospectus which, we^ 



