Nov. r, 1897.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
33 * 
He next quotes a series of American experi- 
ments ; but we do not attach much importance to 
these, thougli the tabular results of all the ex- 
periments quoted may be given : — 
I shall now bring together the figures presented you 
so far, and put them under tabular form : 
Yields of Kamie. 
Countries. 
Java 
Louisiana . . 
Texas 
California, 
Kern Valley 
Algeria 
<D O 
_o 
2 
I to 4 
(D 0^ 
a 
n 
4 
4 
3 
'"a '=0 
03 o q 
g = 3 - 
<n 03 
45 d> q • 
03 O ® 
to S 
03 c3 
^ -te •'S 
CL 
ft 
^ > O 
10,700 lb. 
12,880 „ 
12,600 „ 
11,013 „ 
09 P O » 
a 8 § 
.2 ® =« I 
03 > fc, ^ 
«4-i CO <0 
O 03 P4 gj 
-g. q qj T3 
.SPo G.C3 
ftcS 
42,800 lb. 
25,760 lb. 
50,400 „ 
33,040 „ 
It will be seen at a glance that while the above 
figures present very large differences in gross totals 
of the yearly crops, yet when they are apportioned 
into separate cuttings they agree very closely ; the 
relative weakness of the weight of the Java cutting, 
as compared with those obtained in the States or 
even in Algeria, being explained by the fact that the 
latter experiments have been carried on for a longer 
period than in Java. 
Mr- Mathieu is therefore inclined to think 
that after 3 to 4 years a ramie plantation in 
Malaya should give in 4 cuttings, 20 tons of 
stems per acre per annum. Such an estimate we 
consider most unreliable to work on as a perma- 
nency, even on tlie richest soil and with the best 
possible cultivation. It may be done on a small plot 
for a few years ; but we scarcely think any practical 
planter — in Ceylon at any rate— would embark 
capital with the hope of harvesting 20 or 10 tons of 
a crop per acre, continuously. However let us see 
what Mr. Mathieu has further to say in respect of 
the “ yield in fibre.” We agree with him as to the 
great confusion over the different terms used ; — 
“ Yield in i'ifej'e.— Turning now to the yield in 
fibre, here again we have to brush away the am- 
biguity attaching to the term fibre. It is dubbed 
ribbon, raw fibre, clean fibre, dry fibre, filasse — 
without these words conveying any true idea of the 
standard of purity of the fibre nor of its value in 
money : and sellers of patents or machines have 
too often availed themselves of the vagueness of the 
terms used to impose on the public as to the output 
of their inventions.” Mr. Mathieu adopts 
“clean dry fibre” and takes as the average of 
several experiments (chiefly with the Faure 
machine at Buitenzorg,) an average of 3 '75 per 
cent. He then recapitulates after the following 
attractive— not to say triumphant — fashion : — 
My estimate of yield of ramie stems, stripped of 
leaves and topped, stands as shown above 20 tons 
per acre per annum. Green stripped stems yield 3'75 
per cent of their weight in clean dry fibre, as sample 
No. 2, worth £32 in London. Therefore 20 tons of 
green stripped stems, the aggregate yearly crop of 
one acre, will give 1,680 lb. of fibre, worth £24 in 
London. Conclusion : The gross yearly product of 
one acre planted in ramie in Malaya is £24 in 
London. 
Let us now establish the cost of production of 
these 1 680 lb. of fibre, and laying them down in 
London. 
ACREAGE, 500 ACRES. $ 
Rent per acre . . . . . . 0.50 
Cost of cultivation of 1 acre, trimming and 
cutting superfluous roots; light boeings 30.00 
Manure (using the leaves and refuse from 
decortioationl . , . . . , 4.00 
Cutting, stripping of leaves, gathering and 
carting 20 tons of stems to factory . . 
Management and superintendence, per acre 
f Cooly labour, 1 cent per lb. of 
* fibre 
25.00 
20.00 
16.80 
6.20 
10.00 
Decortication 
j tiDgine-room wages, l,(>801b.- 
V. i day’s output 
Depreciation of machinery and upkeep 
Cost of production of 1,680 lb. at the estate 112.M 
Duty 2|% on $112.50 . . . . 2 70 
Pressing, baling, transport to port of ship- 
ment, freight to London, etc., |30 per ton 
on 1,680 lb. .. .. ... 22.50 
Total cost of 1,6801b. of clean dry fibre laid 
in London . . . . . . 137.70 
This figure of $137.70 should he under ordinary 
conditions considered a maximum ; under favourable 
conditions, and labour at $6 per month, the expendi? 
ture should be much reduced. As it stands, however, 
it shows that one acre, at a cost of $137.70, brings 
in a gross return of £24 or $240, leaving a nett profit 
of $102..30. But it is possible for the planter very 
materially to increase his profit by partially degum- 
ming his fibre himself. 
How to gain the last-mentioned advantage 
with an additional profit of ,34 ’20 dollars per 
acre, is thus described : — 
Degumming, when the gum is yet fresh and fluid, 
offers very much less difficulty than when it is hardened, 
as is the case when the fibre is sent simply dried to 
Europe. Anyone can satisfy himself on this point by 
boiling freshly stripped ramie in water for, say, one 
hour ; it will be seen that the fibre loses a notable 
quantity of its gum. If the boiling is kept up 
for several hours and a small quantity of washing 
soda added, or soft green soap, the reduction 
of the gum will be yet more complete; if the 
boiling is made under pressure in autoclave 
kiers an almost complete degumming can be ob- 
tained; but, beyond the fact that pressure implies 
more or less complication, it is not necessary nor 
desirable to carry the degumming so far, because in 
the presence of a perfectly finished fibre the spinner 
is apt to suspect the use of injurious chemicals; he 
prefers, as in the case of hemp and flax, to finish off 
the process h>mself with his own particular dress- 
ing. The planter, therefore, if he ungums at all, 
need only concern himself with a partial degum- 
ming, limiting himself to extracting, say, two-thirds 
or three-fourths of the gum. 
And then the final conclu.sion becomes ; — 
( =20 tons of stems, stripped and topped 
1 acre < =1,680 lb. of clean, dry fibre 
I =1,344 lb. of degummed filasse 
Cost of production . . . . $163'50 
Value in London .. .. 300-00 
Nett profit $136-50 per 
acre and per year. 
Mr. Mathieu further thinks that the best 
market for the fibre is not Europe but China 
itself, since while he puts the whole production 
of ramie (China grass) in China at 11,0 0 tons, 
the export is only 2,000 tons, the rest being 
used for local manufacture. 
Finally among the papers sent us is an es- 
timate from Mr. J. M. MacDonald (of MacDonald, 
Boyle & Co. London,)— “of the Machinery neces- 
sary, to decoiticate and degum the produce of 
1,200 acres of land, and of the profits to be made 
from the cultivation of Bamie and its subse- 
quent decortication and treatment on the ground, 
so as to render it unlit for the manufacturer, in 
which condition it will readily command £42 per 
ton in Great Britain for large ontracts, and much 
larger prices for small quantities. In France a.» 
much as 2 francs per kilo, equal to about £90 per 
ton, have been oftered ; indeed at our mill at 
Long Eaton we are selling the noils or waste at 
from 4Jd to 5d per pound.” 
