296 
about 900-1,000 lbs. per acre. Mr. Charles Richard Dodge, of 
the United States Department of Agriculture, is of opinion that 
two cuttings of second years growth when properly cultivated will 
produce 20 tons green stalks with their leaves. Further, as each 
ton of green stalks with leaves will yield 46 lbs, of clean dry 
ribbons or raw fibre giving 25 lbs. of degummed fibre, we have 
therefore a return per acre from two cuttings equal to 930 lbs. of 
clean ribbons and 500 lbs. of degummed fibre or filasse. No re- 
turns of the actual fibre have, however, been made continuously on 
a sufficiently large scale to justify absolute confidence in them.” 
After dealing with various machines and processes of manufacture 
the position is summed up as follows: “We are still waiting for a 
Decorticator that will not merely turn out ribbons fit for further 
manufacturing processes, that has been accomplished, but will turn 
out say half a ton a day at a small cost. It is known that when 
ribbons can be produced sufficiently cheaply these can be degum- 
med and turned into filasse at a small cost. 1 he ribbons must be 
susceptible of being delivered at the degumming factory at a cost 
not exceeding £7.9 per ton. At present it cannot be done under 
£12.15 per ton. Then the degumming processes, of which there 
are many, should turn out filasse at £36-40, To put the position 
in other words filasse must be put on the market at about 4 d. per 
pound.” During the past month we have received two letters on 
this subject, extracts from which we give below. One of these was 
forwarded by Mr. Allan Renney, who has recently returned from 
Europe, together with samples of spun and unspun fibre, and the 
other from Messrs. Jules Karples & Co., Calcutta, who are desi- 
rous of obtaining a large supply of roots for planting. 
Letter No. i. 
As you possibly are aware I have been connected with the flax 
trade for a lifetime and in consequence know the relative merits of 
the various economic fibres that are in use at the present time. 
With this knowledge in view I am of opinion that there is no fibre 
grown that has the possibilities of this King of all fibres. In 
Ireland where land and labour are comparatively dear, an acre of 
giound can only produce 27 stones of flax=378 lbs., worth on an 
average 47/ per cwt. From Ramie stems kindly sent me by Sir 
Edward Laurence of Liverpool, that were grown in his conser- 
vatory, I made the following simple calculations: From 10 of these 
I got $ of an ounce of fibre. If these had been grown under fair 
climatic conditions it is reasonable to assume that 10 stems would 
yield one ounce of fibre. The calculation is this, 20,000 roots 
plant one acre, if these produce stems each at this rate the return 
would be 1,250 lbs. per cutting. This yarn that I have handed you 
is spun from black Ramie the very worst to treat both for waste 
and expense. This sample is spun with the gum on the fibre 
which I think is the most effective way of treating Ramie for ordi- 
nary linen purposes as it can be more easily cleaned in the form 
of yarn than in a fibrous state. Any hardness in this yarn must 
be ascribed to the fact of the Ramie having been lying about 7 
