jtj'jE I, i?98.3 the troeical agriculturist, 82^ 
RAMIE OR RHEA FIBRE GROWING 
IN CEYLON; 
A NEW AND PROMISING INDUSTRY. 
Mr. MacDonald lias returned fairly well satisfied 
from liis inspection of the field of Ramie grown 
under the direction of Mr. Manley Power on 
the Pittiakande property of the Kurunegala 
Estates Company, In all some ten acres nave 
been devoted to the fibre plant, and the growtli 
and appearance so far have satisfied both Mr. Power 
and Mr. MacDonald. The latter brought to u.s 
specimen stems of a month’s growth which m 
another fortnight would be quite lit lor cutting. 
These are about 5 feet in length and half-inch dia- 
jji 3 ter— very niueli smaller than the splendid stem 
we have had on show for a long time from the 
Colombo Garden of Mr. T. S. Clark. That big 
stem— 8.^ feet long and one inch in diameter,— Mr. 
MacDt nald pronounces too old to be useful for fibre 
pirposis Pittiakande estate is situated between 
^urunemila and Galagedera and— with an annual 
rainfall”of 90 inches well-distributed, according 
to Mr. Manley Power,— is admirably adapted to 
grow Ramie, the soil Leipg exceptionally good. 
But, for a proper experiment, this gentleman 
would recommend land which he can 
secure North of Kurunegala, only 14 mile 
off the new line of railway and which 
he insists has good soil and an equally ample 
well-distiibuted rainfall, duly tested. Here 1,000 
8Lcr6s Ctin be couuTiaiuled, and 200 planted with 
Ramie, the minimum extent bargained for by 
Mr MacDonald with reterence to the applica- 
tion of his patent process of preparation. Mr. 
Manley-Power staggered us _ with his faith m 
land North of Kurunegala in view of all the 
adverse reports we have received from practical 
planters, surveyors, and public works’ officers- ; 
but it turns out tliat the land be recommends 
is within the ten miles radius of Kurunegala 
which covers the good land with adequate i ain- 
fall- and he quite agrees that beyond that limit 
tbe ’railway will run through a miserably poor 
and comparatively rainless country for many 
But to return to the Fibre plant, there can be 
no doubt that Ceylon stands mucii more in need 
of a new paying product now, th.an it did when 
Mr MacDonald was here last ; and that in view 
of the trial already given, it would be exceed- 
ingly interesting as well as beneficial, to have 200 
acres planted and the industry fully tested with 
the patent process. To this end, it is indis- 
pensable that a Limited Company be formed, 
and indeed, all the preliminary steps were 
taken last year, the papers are all really, 
only requiring that the shares should be taken 
up. But “ tliei-e’s the mb.” Where is caifital 
to be "ot for a new venture at this time cf 
depressfon and dearness of money in Ceylon? 
The amount required may not be large and if 
d'stributed tlirougiiout our planting and mei- 
c'uitile community, it ought to be a tritimg afi;ur 
to compass, if only each prominent man interested 
in new prmlucts took a very few shares each, 
Tbe case is one too, where we think special 
countenance and aid might be looked for tiom 
Government. For, here is an entirely new 
industry which, if successfully started, cou d 
not fail to benefit large districts in Ceylon. The 
South-western part ot tlie island was long ago 
described as a very para<lise for fibrous plants, 
and a demand for land as well as the resultii g 
employment of labour and circulation of capital' 
would, of course, benefit the general revenue. 
The ordinary mode ot seeking official aid 
ivould he to ask for a grant of the 
land required. But it is doulitful if the 
Crown has any land in the neiglibourhood 
where it is desirable the exiieriiueiit should be 
made, so .suitable as that Mr. Mauley Power des- 
cribes. Failing land then, we would suggest a 
plan fr-'ely adopted in other Colonies to our 
knowledge— namely in (Queensland, Natal, New 
Zealanil — namely, the granting of a “ bounty ’ 
on tlie first appreciable sliipment~10, 20 or 50 
t in.s of marketable fibre made by tlie Com- 
pany, the quality of tbe fibre lo be duly tested, 
and its value declared by competent, imiiartia! 
judges. It will be for tbe Directors of tbe 
Company if formed to take tliis into considera- 
tion, and to define what sum in “ bounty” 
should bo asked from the Government. If 
granted, tlie fact would, no doubt, give addi- 
tional confidence to the public in taking up tlie 
shares. 
Meantime, we may mention that we continue 
to receive specimens of Ramie grown in different 
districts and some samples of prepared 
fibre; One gentleman in the South is es- 
pecially enterpri.sing in this way ; but we 
regret to say that Mr. MacDonald condemns 
ills samples as being both discoloured and 
decayed. We fear it is not likely indeed that 
fibre acceptable to the British manufacturers can 
be pre)>aied, apart from the patent process. To- 
day, Mr. Macdonald brought us samples (l)of the 
fibre as produced from the stem, (2) after treat- 
ment, (3) after being combed, and (4) as prepared for 
weaving, also of canvas and table cloth made from 
such fibre and all are extremely fine and strong. Of 
course a central factory could be established to serve 
a whole district of cultivators (on a small as well as 
big scale) wlio would bring their stems in to be 
treated. But that must follow after it is shown nn- 
raistakably that the 2oO acres planted as described 
above, yield profitable results. We wish Mr. 
Manley Power and his supporter.s every success in 
organizing and floating the lirst Ramie Cul- 
tivation Limited Company in Ceylon, in the full 
hope that it may be a proiir.able investment for all 
concerned and tlie beginning of an important 
industry well adapted to extensive districts in 
certain jirovinces of the island. 
Coffee in Southern India. — Tlie Ouchterlony 
Valley, we are told by Mr. E. de J'onblaiique 
in an' interview with a contemiioraiy, still yields 
as good crops as ever it did, wliilst the trees are 
in splendid heart, and though haf disease is pre- 
sent, the soil is so good, and the healtli of the 
trees so vigorous, (hat it does not seem to do any 
permanent lianii. We are very much interested 
to hear that a hybrid bet ween arabica and Liberian 
coffee lias been discovered on Mr. de F’oiiblanqne’s 
estate, and that from it many plants have been 
raised, and a small clearing of it is about to le 
])huited. A few seeds were, we believe, sene to 
the i’eradeniya gar;lens, and wc s! ould like to 
hear how they arc getting on. The hybrid is 
described as a rohusl variety of arahka pioducing 
a large bean, hut with none cf tlie coarsene.^s of 
tlie Liberian. It has been sai;! that the time will 
come when Ceylon iilanUrs will once more t ike 
to cofl’ee planting. If so (an'd.s oiir conteini or.iry) 
they could not well set to work with a better- 
variety than a liybrid of tlii.s sort. 
