77 



We are convinced that if the growers in Jamaica were in a position 

 to produce large quantities that ample sale at remunerative prices could 

 be made, but it is of the utmost importance to the growers and to the 

 business that such sale be confined to the hands of one party, as it is 

 naturally the great object to the consumers and manufacturers of the 

 article in this country to put one source of supply against another, and! 

 one seller against another in order to reduce prices as much as possible.. 



Our opinion is that the best way for Jamaica producers to send the* 

 article over to this country will be similar to the sample case that you 

 sent us, at least to start with, because any process employed to produce 

 the article into a finer state will certainly be improved upon within the 

 next few months, or at least within the next 12 months. There will be 

 little or no advantage in sending the article either in the state of filase 

 such as sample No. 1 that we sent to you, because the probability is that 

 when producing it in this state in Jamaica, the people might only spoil 

 it, and the probable value would not be more than £30 to £40 per ton, 

 whereas they get three times the weight in the rough ribbons that you 

 sent over, and we could probably contract at something like £16 to £18 

 per ton. Of course, you will understand that our opinion is that in the 

 course of time when the production has grown to a considerable propor- 

 tion in Jamaica, then the correct plan will be to produce all the fibre in 

 Jamaica into a state of drawn silk, such as sample No. 2, or even to go 

 the length of white silk yarn, such as sample No. 3, but to begin with,, 

 it will be far better to produce raw ribbons and ship them home baled 

 in canvas, press-packed, and for that purpose we assume that what you. 

 want to obtain is the best and cheapest way of decorticating the stalks, 

 into the ribbon suitable for this market. 



You will observe from this letter that w r e are very earnestly connected 

 with the article, and that nothing on our part will be left undone to 

 supply you with all the information you may require, and we have no 

 hesitation in saying that you will be perfectly justified in strongly re- 

 commending the planters in Jamaica to at once begin to plant Ramie 

 Fibre, as the demand now is very strong, and we are now in a position, 

 to place orders before you or any of the planters for considerable quan- 

 tities, similar to that which you sent us. We wish to make this per- 

 fectly clear that we are treating this matter practically and in a business 

 like way ; there is no theory about it. We have sold what you sent 

 over, and in course of time will account sale out to you, and we are now 

 making quite sure of what machine we should recommend you to take 

 up before we go too far and then find out afterwards that there was a 

 better machine in existence. 

 Commending this matter to your earnest atteniion, 

 We are }^ours faithfully, 



Dunlop Brothers & Co, 



Directir of Public Gardens to Mr. D. Edwards Radclyffe. 



29th July, lcS9o. 



Dear Sir, 



I am sending you by same mail samples of Rhea or Ramie for your 

 opinion, which I hope you will be able to give me, as it may have an 

 important influence on ihe cultivation in Jamaica. 



