to. 1, 1902,] 
THE TROPICAL AGRIOULTUElSr. 
153 
an end. The Univeisal Exhibition of 1878 gave it <a 
new start, however, but the trade was still stopped 
by the 'uhereut difficulties of decorticating and de- 
giimmiDg the planf. It was thought that the Exhibi- 
tion of 1889 would provide a solution of the diffi- 
culty,, but the results of the international Congress 
did not modify the position of the subject which 
was interesting the Avhole Colonial world. It is evident 
that the peculiar glutinous and insoluble matters 
which surround the libres in the cortical layer's 
present great obstacles to the mechanical and 
chemical treatment necessary for degumming. It 
made one fear that because the Hamie could not be 
prepared in a perfect and economical manner it 
could take no particular place in the textile industry, 
which was already well supplied with the principal 
known fibres — hemp, flax, and cotton. In other 
words, a new textile dear and difficult to use, equal 
perhaps to flix but interior to silk, was not wanted. 
This was the situation in the French industry, 
particularly as our production of hemp and flar 
sufficed for its retjuiremsuts. Bat this opinion al- 
tered sensibly in Europe when our crops were in 
danger of failure, and people began to ask if some 
day we should not be unable to obtain cotton, 
which our colonial possessions do not produce. The 
supply of textile rav^ material might fail from sorne 
cause or other, and already the cultivation of flax 
and hemp has nearly ceased in France, in spite of 
the premiums offered, which, in li?89, amounted to 
2,500,000 francs (£100,000), equal to 92fr. 60c. per 
hectare about 30s. per acre.) France would then 
have to obtain from abroad all the raw niateriuls 
used in her manufactures, and the question arose 
whether her colonies could not furnish to the home 
factories Ramie fibre, which seemed to be an ex- 
cellent material, and could be largely used. Similar 
opinions seemed to influence other nations in their 
ftttempts to utilise Ramie. All colonial agriculturists 
seemed to think the easy cultivation of this peren- 
nial plant wonld admit of its competition in certain 
Cases with cotton, while the manufacturers also 
hoped to find in its textile fabric an exceptional 
quality and firmness. The situation has thus 
changed. Ramie is really wanted by the textile 
trade, and its use cannot be prevented merely by 
some difficulty in its ciefibration— as that will be 
overcome. 
The case is as follows: — The China-grass supplied 
by the Chinese to European manufacturers is insuffi- 
cient for their needs. Its price is very variable — 
often very high. This raw material is sent to our 
market in the form of strips, which hive been ob- 
tained by sundry manual operations. — scraping, soak- 
ing, drying, — which have caused it to lose a large 
quantity of the gum. 
The manufacturers ask ; — 
(I.) If the culture of Ramie, which is at pi'esent 
confined to part of Central Asia, cannot be 
extended to other localities having similar or 
more favourable climate. 
(2.) If the manual labour of the Chinese can 
be replaced by mechaniocil or chemical pro- 
cesses, so as to produce a cheap article, and 
at the same time preserve the quality of the 
fibre. 
(3.) If the cultivation and manufacture of Ramie 
would pay, based on a similar price to that of 
China-grass, or even higher than the later, according 
to the state of preparation. 
DIFFERENT KINDS OF R.4MtE. 
There are two kinds of Ramie plants which, if 
properly grown and prepared, would be bought by 
the textile trades in Europe in any quantity and at a 
very remunerative price, — 
(1st) L'rtica {Dcelimeria) nivea, or white China- 
grass. 
(2nd) Urtica utUis, or temcissima, green Ramie 
from Jav;i. and the Indian Archipelago. 
The first will grow in temperate zones, but the 
Sec9U(J onl^ in ti'^pical or semi-tropic{il olioaatesi 
While Bamie. 
One of the characteristics of this plant is the 
annual up growth of the stems, which disappear in 
the antumn after having fructifiel. Another is the 
white down covering the undersides of the leaves. 
This plant originates in China and Oriental Asia 
hxving been cultivated for centuries by the Chine'aa 
for their own use, the excess of production being 
exported to England under the name of China grass. 
It grows in temperate zones like the olive and orange, 
and flower.s in the autumn, after which the atema 
dry up, showing appirently no life until the fol- 
lowing Spring. It is of importance to cut the sterna 
befor the flowering, or the fibre is spoil d. After 
experiments made in different climates it has been 
found that the Urtica nivca is unsuitable for tro- 
pical or semi-tropical countries, as the abnormal 
growth and constant flowering prevent the stems 
from maturing, and reduces both the quality and quan. 
tily of the fibre. It thrives, however, very well in tem- 
perate zones, where the heat is not excessive in 
the Spring and Autumn, and where only slight frosts 
occur in the Winter. It may be laid down as a 
general rule that the growing of Urtica nivea will 
njt give good economical results in any but a tem- 
perate zone, the extreme limit of which is to where 
su^ar-cane and bananas can be grown. This plant 
fructifies abundantly and the seeds are fertile ; in 
the experimental farm in Algiers, very large crops 
have been obtained during the last 40 years. 
Green Rainie. 
This species, Urtica tenacistima or uti.li.i, is distinctly, 
characterised by having perennial stems and the 
undersides of its leaves almost green, but sometimes 
very slightly covered with white down. It is a native 
of Java and the Indian Archipelago, and for indus- 
trial purposes ranks equal, if not superior, to China- 
grass. It grows like a shrub ; the stems speedily 
throw out branches and become ligneous, rapidly 
increasing in height and diameter. It lives for several 
years, and the flowering is not followed by the dry- 
ing of the stems, as is the case with the white 
ramie, The flowering periods are not numerous, and 
it rarely produces any seed. In good moist soil, 
this nettle will take the form of a shrub up to 
16 feet high, but in poorer dry soil it becomes a 
mere bush. The green ramie with its enormous 
growth is thus most suitable for tropical districts 
having constant rains or irrigation in periods of 
drought. Under such conditions this plant rapidly 
produces stems 6 to 7 feet in height, which should 
be cut for treatment in the green state, before the 
appearance of the side-shoots, hut when having 
arrived at a certain degree of maturity. A peculiar 
characteristic of this ramie is that when a stem 
is cut, leaving a fair size stump, this stump will 
throw out side shoots which develop into high stems. 
This, on the contrary, never happens with the white 
ramie, the stems of which are annual, while the 
shoots spring from the root. There was for some 
time a doubt as to the industrial value of green 
ramie, though its richness is magnificent, strong 
fibres was well known ; but lately the difficulty in 
its mechanical and chemical treatment has been 
overcome, and many manufacturers now prefer it 
to the white ramie. 
This is of importance to the cultivator operating 
in warm climates, as the constant and exuberant 
grov/th of this species enables him to get several 
crops and a correspondingly better financial return. 
This ramie is now sutH.:iently well known in the trade ! 
and should give any grower an excellent result in suit- 
able localities, that is, in warm, moist climates, where 
the vegetation is not interrupted by insufficiency of 
rain, or where irrigation can be applied during dry 
periods. 
TRE.iTMENT OF EAMIE IN A HUV OR A GREEN" STATE. 
The methods of treating the stems are of great 
iinportauca to the grower, as the price cbtaine^ 
