53 



more than about 2 J cents for the necessary dry retted stalks, (i.e., about 

 6f lbs.) to produce 1 lb. of decorticated ribbon, leaving 2 J cents per lb. 

 to the company to pay for running expenses and profit. Therefore the 

 value of the dried retted stalks is about 2 cents for 5 lbs. It is on this 

 basis that the above-mentioned estimate of £4 per acre per cutting has 

 been arrived at. 



The first treatment to which the ramie plant has to be subjected — 

 retting — is one involving but a nominal outlay, no technical knowledge, 

 and but little care. It could be carried out by each settler for himself. 



A tank or trough is required of six cubic yards capacity (i. e., about 

 nine feet long, six feet wide and three feet deep) lined with cement, or 

 made of pine-board, with a clay backing. This tank will hold about 

 3,000 lbs of green stems with the leaves on. Enough water should be 

 added to immerse the stems. To every 1,000 lbs. of stems shonld be 

 added 5 lbs. of flour of sulphur, 5 lbs. caustic potash and 5 lbs. of good 

 charcoal ; but if ashes from the engine be added, half the quantity of 

 potash will suffice. The process of retting is completed in from 4 to 8 

 days. The bundles when partially open and dried in stacks can be 

 stored, and will keep for a considerable time. The sun would be avail- 

 able for drying in the greater part of Jamaica. The liquid which is 

 over, mixed with cattle, sheep, or horse (not hog) manure, makes a most 

 suitable manure, and the leaves would make good paper stock. The cost 

 of chemicals is nominal. The process of retting could be carried out 

 without the chemicals, but it would take more time. 



On the satisfactory performance of the s cond process, decorticating, 

 depends in great measure the success or failure of the whole industry. 



From the nature of things the Committee is not yet in a position to 

 report upon the qualifications of the Allison machine ; nor upon the third 

 process, that of degumming, which is a secret, the rights of which, for 

 the "West Indies, are also held by Mr. Hollier. 



Mr. Hollier states that Sea Island cotton, with which ramie fibre has 

 to compete, never fetches less than 24 cents per lb., and that ramie fibre 

 can, by the Allison machine, be produced to sell at a profit of 24 cents 

 per lb. It now fetches 75 cents per lb. 



It is evident to the Committee, from the information before it, that 

 if ramie cultivation is to be successfully earned out in Jamaica, it will be 

 necessary that a factory for the decorticating and degumming of the 

 fibre, should be established in the Island, for the loss on freight on the 

 waste parts of the stalks, if the plants were exported for treatment, would 

 do away with any profit realized by its growth. 



It would appear that it would be immaterial to Mr Hollier whether 

 the company which it would be necessary to form should be formed with 

 Jamaican or American capital. In the first case, Mr. Hollier would claim 

 one-fifth of a capital of £25,000 as promoter's fees. In the latter he 

 would, after he is assured that 2,500 acres of land are planted, be pre- 

 pared to give a guarantee to take all the ramie grown in the Island. In 

 the first case, Jamaica would stand a chance of making a profit from the 

 treatment of the fibre, as well as from the cultivation of the crops — in 

 the latter she would have no such chance of profit, but would on the 

 other hand run no risk of loss, except through a possible failure on the 

 part of the company to take all the crops produced, for it is obvious that 

 Mr. Hollier's offered guarantee to take all the ramie grown in the Island 



