850 
THE TROPICAL AQRIOULTURlST 
[May 2, 1892. 
coffee as a retarder of stomach digestion would 
probably more felt than it is were it not so con- 
stantly the practice to take it only in small quan- 
tities after a very large meal ; it is then mixed 
with an immense bulk of food, and its relative per- 
centage proportion of food insignificant. To the 
strong and vigorous the slightly retarding influence 
on digestion may be, as 8ir W. Roberts suggests, 
not altogether a disadvantage, but after a spare 
meal, and in persona of feoble digestive power, the 
cup of black coffee would probabljr oxercise a re- 
tarding effect on digestion, which might prove 
harmful. It is also worthy of remark that in the groat 
coffee-drinking countries this beverage is made not 
nearly so strong as with us. At home, and in India 
also, I am afraid, good always means strong coffee, 
often very strong coffee ; but on the Continent they 
possess the faculty of making good coffee which is 
not necessarily very strong coffee, and which, there- 
fore, as a beverage, is less likely to do harm. The 
great difference between Unglish and Continental 
coffee is that the former make their coffee from a 
mixture of chicory and coffee dust, and consequently 
have to uso large quantities to obtain any flavour at 
all from the decoction. On the Continent they either 
roast it themselves or buy freshly roasted coffee and 
grind it at home. This we do out here also, «7iy 
don't wo get good coffee 1 Of the throe drinks 
thoroforo, cocoa may be ranked first, as being least 
harmful to digestion. 'J'aken with proper precautions, 
however, toa and coffee may be safely partaken of, 
in most cases with much benefit to the ilrinkers. 
—Madras Times. CiirioiiroN. 
[A person’s own instinot and experience are 
the best guides ; and both are in favour of toa with 
milk and sugar. — Bu. T. A.] 
THE CULTURE OF liUAMIE. 
Many people know the value of rliamie, it.i growth 
and preparation, bnt for the edification of those who 
do nut, we will explain. Ithsmie is a native of the 
Snnda Islands, but has long been introduced in Upper 
Bnrmab from China. This fibrous plant w.ia origin- 
ally oiinfonuded with China grass; however, it is now 
recognised that the two are essentially distinct, China 
grass being classified as Vochneria nivea, whilst rhamte 
is furnished by the Jiochmeria lUilis. Both phnts are 
of the nettle order and of oonssiderabfe size, tapeoi- 
ally when they are improved by culture ; but tboir 
leaves differ in colour, the former having a silver- 
white top, whilst the latter has grryish-greon leaves. 
The fibre obtained from each plant is very similar 
in many respects, bat that uotained from rhamie is 
far snperior, being very soft and beautifnlly white, 
and does not break so easily when subjected to, 
tension. As regards cultivation, rhamie presents many 
advantages. It is a hardy plant, very vigorons and 
healthy and whcnouce planted, it willcontiniie to flourish 
about twenty years with rognlarity, provided it re- 
ceives a certain amount of ooiistant care. It multi- 
plies easily and rapidly, aud can be planted at small 
expense. Us cnltivatiou is simple aud its crops very 
ahoudant; 111 dry olimates three to four harvests a 
year can be reckoned on. With regard to its valne 
rbaiiiio certainly proiluoea a better fibre than oottou 
or linen and one as glossy as silk. 
Different fibres being of ditforedt thickness their 
relative value can best bo judged by redueiug them 
to a common denuiniuatiou. Taking thamia as the 
unit, we reaob the following results 
Twisting 
Strength. Elasticity. Straiu. 
Thickness. 
Rhamie 
Flax 
Ilomp 
Cotton 
Silk 
Tensile. 
.. 1 
1 
■1/.5 
19/2(5 
4 
U 
It will be thus seen that rhamie fibre is longer and 
mote uniform than all the others, except silk. It is 
mute solid, bas more tensile strongtb, mors resistance 
to twiating strain and more elasticity than linen or 
hemp, or evnu outton, though thu latlec can bu more 
readily twisted. Inferior only to silk. Under the pre- 
parstion to which rhamie is .submitted, it receives tbe 
appeiranoe of cotton wool or even silk thread. From 
its single or mixed fibres may be woven all kinds of 
stuffs from (he finest to the coarsest. Mixed witli 
wool, or with wool aud silk, rhamie can be made into 
nmguificent furuishlug materials. Imitutions of sa'ius, 
simminge, and tabic linen can also be made from it. 
I may add that all tbe imitation silks worn by 
the Karons and Thans are the produce of this fibrous 
plant. Another unheard-of uso of this valuable 
fibre is tbe manufacture of steam pipes, which we 
boar is a remarkable Yankee iiirentioc, and of which 
wo shall hear something more in this country before 
long. 
Tbe soil suitable for rhamie is a light one, such 
as chalk, sandy or alluvial; spots whioh can be 
easily i rigated- Aa to climate, the warmer the 
better. Having regard to all Ihese different oondi- 
tioua, it is without doubt that this plant can be 
cultivated with advantage in parts of India aud 
Ceylon. 
Roproduoliou can be obtained by sowing, but the 
method moat commonly adopted is to plant pieces 
of roots or thick slips. Tne nurseries should ba 
madv in a light soil similar to b.-ds of a kitchen 
yardou. 
As earthing up has to be done later, it is well to 
reni er it more easy by preparing the grouuds in 
furrows. Tlio plants are placed a few iuohos apart 
till they are strong enough to be transplanted. 
During the whole time of preparation, the nursery 
flOil^ must be well manured and kept free from 
noxious weeds. It being a strong plant whioh will 
occupy the soil tor many years, plantations may be 
made. In that ease the soil must be prepared to a 
depth of to 15 feet, which can bo done by plough- 
ing, the best resnits being obtained by the most 
oarefnlly prepared ground. 
When the plants grow to the height of 2i feet, the 
tops are then out, but the fibre in this iustaaoe is 
very inferior ; second weeding is then necessary : 
ttieu new spouts are allowed to spring np. When 
the loser parte of those shoots turn browo, a new 
cutliug is proceeded with. This time the fibre is of 
good quality and tbe plautiUtion well established. To 
preserve it, it is only necessary to we«d between each 
cutting down. The ground should bo well manured, 
as rhamie, like all other plants, is fruitful in propor- 
tion to the manure with which it is suppl ed. For 
this purpose horse or cow’s dung is fonnd very 
suitable. 
Tbe crop once gathered has to be prepared. It is an 
established fact that rhamie cannot be retted the fer- 
mentation set up by that process would destroy the 
qualities of the fibre. Separation by hand is a very 
long operation, aud cannot bu employed unless labour 
can be obtained very cheaply ; it is therefore mainly 
effected by m.icbinury. Many have been tried but 
their defects, such as breaking or doflootiug the fibre, 
have caused them to bu abandoned, 
Tbe fibre once obtained, it has to be washed with 
gum aud bleached ; then it is ready for combing, card- 
ing and other teiile purposes. 
It has been ostiniatea that a planlatiou of five acres 
will nourish SO.UOU plants and the prodnoe of three 
cuttings in one yesr will give 159,000 lb. of atems, 
whioli will }ield 11,200 lb. of fibre, tbe market value 
of which is three anuas per pound. 
Many people are experimenting with various pro- 
cesses was fur extracting tbo fibre cheaply and gniokiy. 
Up to tbe present no result.* are quite satistaotory. 
However, it would be well for oapiialists aud manu- 
facturers ill India tu try experiments m this direction, 
as it is one of the most important industrial problonos 
of the dnj.—Judian Textile Journal. 
NOTES ON I’ltODUUE AND FINANCE. 
Thk Indian Tea Distbicts' Association and New 
Markets. — A t the meeting of the Indian Tea Dis- 
tricts’ A-sociatiou, held on Tuesday, the question of 
new markuta waa diauussud aud the ueousaity for aollvo 
