660 
THE TEOPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [April 1, 1904. 
in their germination by being soaked, previous to 
sowing, in soft water, to a pint of which a lump of 
camphor about the size of a large nut has been added. 
Mr. Lee tried this experiment on many vegetable 
seeds, such as Peas, Beans, &a. , as well as Palms, Castor 
oil seeds, and various other tropical seeds, which 
have verv hard seed coats, many of which would 
require eoakiug in water for a long time before they 
■would otherwise show signs of germination but which 
with the addition of camphor sprout easily and 
•rapidly. This same fact may be taken advantage of 
in stimluating cuttings of Roses or other plants sent 
from one country to another. Rose cuttings, for 
example, posted in England, carry safely to India 
and the stimulation caused by dipping their freshly- 
cut ends in camphor water, helps greatly to enable 
them to take root when placed in the soil." 
SYNTHETIC CAMPHOB. 
Before leaving the subject of camphor, it may be 
well to mention the fact that about a year ago a 
process was devised in America by which camphor 
could be made synthetically from turpentine, and 
though no sample has yet been seen in the London 
market it is now stated that the company are now 
preparing at their New- York works, machinery for 
producing 2,COO,000 lb. per annum. 
[We understand, however, that synthetic camphor 
made by the present process will have little effect on 
the consumption of the natural product, as it cannot 
be put on the market unless a price of about six 
shillings per lb. is ensured for it. This price is pro- 
hibtive, and synthetic camphor can therefore be left 
unconsidered.— Ed. T A] 
MENTHOL OR PEPPERMINT CAMPHOB. 
Menthol, or peppermint camphor as it is sometimes 
called, has become so well known as an antiseptic, 
stimulant, and carminative-, as well as for outward 
application in neuralgia and toothache, that any 
failure or shortness of supply will be a matter of con- 
siderable importance. The substance beean to attract 
attention in this country in 1879, and since then it 
has become an increasing article of trade. It is a 
crystalline substance resembling ordinary camphor, 
and is obtained by cooling the volatile oil from the 
fresh herb of Mentha arvensis var. piperascens and 
var. glabrata. The best qnality menthol is that 
brought from Japan, and known in the market as 
Kobayasbi crystals. Up to the actual commence- 
ment of hostillities, this qnality menthol had been 
selling in the market at 16/6 to 16/9 per lb. It has 
since risen to 17/6, and will probably coLimand much 
higher prices. The oil, after the separation from it 
of the menthol is also an article of export from Japan 
MOEB ABOUT RAMIE FIBRE. 
Eamie is certainly being boomed just now, and is 
attracting a good deal of notice and interest in Eng- 
land, Two letters on the subject appear in a recent 
issue of "Commercial Intelligence." Mr. James 
Anderson, of Arbroath, has evidently had considerable 
experience with ramie, and speaks highly of the fibre. 
He has no fear about ramie cultivation paying the 
planter, and handsomely, but insists that the decorti- 
cating machine employed must prepare the fibre 
to suit existiiig conditions among the manufacturers. 
With properly prepared fibre the spun produce is 
excellent and superior than the finest flax. 
Planters, however, want more information regard- 
ing the decorticating and degumming process ; and we 
shall be glad to offer the medium of our columns for 
information that will be of practical use to planters. 
Mr. Anderson writes as follows ; — Having heard of 
Mr. D. Edwards-Radcljffe, it was with more then 
usual interest that I read all that he had to say 
in your recent issue about ramie and its possibili- 
ties. The impresBion deepened when I came to the 
manufacturers' difficulty, and read ; — " The oper« 
ations, too, of the company promoters, who Were not 
slpw g^asp the vast possibility of tpe ramie indus- 
try, have tended to put ramie in bad odour." 
These were further increased when I came to where 
be describes ramie to be not a substitute but a 
rival," and states that its possibilities are that it 
ultimately will compete with cotton, flax, hemp, jute, 
and other fibres. To all that he says in praise of this 
very fine fibre, and its extensive range of use and 
adaptability, I heartily agree. 
THE CAUSE OF THE BAMIE DIFFICULTY. 
That dif&culties still confront the planter must 
be known to. all who have the least knowledge of 
the relative qualities of other economic fibres that 
are prepared for manufacturing purposes either by 
hand or machine. The cause of the whole ramie 
difficulty rests here, and has not been overcome, 
as Mr. Eadcljffe makes out. Until this is 
solved, ramie will make little headway for the best 
power-driven machine, requiring the attention of two 
men, can only produce about 50 lbs. of ribbon a 
day, and is at the same time very wasteful of fibre. 
To expect either capitalists, planters, or manufacture 
ers to interest themselves under these conditions is 
absurd. 
Neither is it the easy thing that Mr. Badclyfie 
supposes for manufacturers to introduce special 
■machinery for the purpose of working what fibre can 
be got. It is safe to say that no manuf.iciurer 
would be so foolish. Any that have done so have had 
occasion to regret their action. It is not a question 
of specially designed machinery as this is not required 
at all. 
PKOPIJE PBEPARATION OF THE FIBEE WANTED. 
What is really needed is the preparation of the 
fibre to suit existing conditions. This I have done, 
and got it spun over the ordinary flax and tow 
machinery in use here. The result was so satis- 
factory that the fibre merchant who supplied the 
ribbon wanted to buy the spun produce in the form 
of rove and different ply twines. To further prove 
the ability of ramie to meet the conditions that 
prevail in the flax trade, I carefully weighed some 
of it last week and hand dressed it the same as I 
do flax, with the result that I had a yield of long fibre 
equal to 70 lbs. per cwt, fit to make a very fine size of 
yarn. Any flax that can give that yield is considered 
exceptionally good. 
TO PLANTEE". 
Planters who can and will grow ramie need have 
no fear of getting quit of their produce at prices 
that will pay them handsomely, but they must have 
a diflerent machine to any that is in the market 
for the purpose of removing the ribbon from the 
stem of the plant, and until this can be had planters 
will not grow ramie as they have other crops that 
grow and pay in good land such as ramie needs. 
I know the plant from the stem to the highest 
finish of its produce, and could, by means that I 
have tested time and again, remove the ribbon 
from the stem at the rate of one ton a day by 
one machine attended by three men. In the pre- 
paration of the ribbon after its removal to suit any 
purpose for which it is intended I find no difficulty 
whatever, and I would rather prepare ramie than 
flax in any shape or form. But I am fully 
prepared, in order to show you what ramie should be, 
to send yon samples of my work prepared to take the 
place of the finest of flax that is used in the making of 
the highest class of thread and the finest of linen 
napery. 
Mr. Edwardd-IladoljfEe writes the second letter. It 
is a reply to one by Mr. H. Brown who previously vrrote 
what Mr. Radcljffe evidently thinks was a disparag- 
ing account of ramie. He says :-^Mr, Brown aamita 
it is a " good many years ago '' since he wove Ramie, 
and he calls attention to several, to my mind, minor 
defects. He makes no allowance for the fact l^e was 
then using 
