78 



(1) One sample consists of ribbons simply stripped off the stems 



as they grow in the field. 



(2) are ribbons stripped as in (1), but afterwards steeped in water 

 and then roughly scraped. 



(3) stems retted in water with potash, sulphur, and charcoal, ac- 



cording to formula given on page 52 of Bulletin for March, 

 1894, sent by same post. 



{4) wood only of ditto to see whether there is much fibre left at- 

 tached, and so wasted. 



(5) ribbons from stalks treated as in (3) and stripped off (4) by 

 hand. 



Can you supply a machine which simply decorticates and leaves the 

 ribbons for export ? What is price, and would you send out one for 

 trial free, as it would cer ainlv be purchased if it answered the purpose ? 



We shall probably have to begin operations with a simple decortica- 

 ting machine, and take up the process for producing filasse later. Does 

 your decorticating machine do more than get the same result as (1) 

 stripping by hand ? What price is obtainable for each of above sam- 

 ples ? 



I enclose herewith also a sample for your kind opinion of some fibre 

 — the result of retting the ribbons in an alkaline solution. 



There is always a considerable difference m price bet wet n " China 

 •Grass" and " Ramie or Rhea ribbons." e g. in May last u China Grass" 

 was quoted 28/ to 29/ and " Rhea" only 15/. Can you tell me whether 

 .this is due altogether to the condition in which it comes into the market 

 — the China Grass being prepared much better, and the Rhea being 

 onlv the ribbons, or is the fibre of Cnina Grass much stronger and bet- 

 ter? 



You will see on pages 33 and 34 of pamphlet that the varieties ap- 

 pear distinct enough. 



Very truly yours, 



W. Fawcett. 



Mr. D. Edwards Eadc/i/ff'e to Director of Public Gardens. 



56 Gloucester Cresent, Regent's Park, London N.W. 



January 6th, 1896. 



Dear Sir, 



I must apologise for delay in answering your letter of July 29th. 

 I wished to be able to send yow. particulars as I now T do below ; also to 

 announce we had started Mill for Ramie. As we are now in a position 

 to treat for sale of Patents and open to buy Ramie I can answer your 

 letter fully. First as to the samples you sent : — 



No. 1. Rhea ribbons — The samples are not large enough to put 

 through the process. The ribbons seem good, the pellicle is easily de- 

 tached, in fact rubs off. How r is this attained? With the samples 

 we get from India, etc. this outer bark is not easily detachable. 



No. 2. the scraped ribbons aie not so good as the No. 1, and would 

 not produce such good filasse as the fibre is partly spoilt. Would it 

 not be better to scrape as the Chinese do in the green state without 

 steeping ? 



No. 3. is good material spoilt and I should say is not likely to prove 

 profitable 



