4 2 
some of which I have had will, at £18 a ton after wastage and 
cleaning charges are met, come in at less than good f lir flax yarn. 
From samples o/ Ramie ribbon grown in the Strait? Settlements 
where I understand it can be cut about 6 times a year I should 
think that £lB a ton for it as taken off the stem ought to pay the 
grower especially if little hand labour is employed in removing the 
peel or ribbon from off the stem. In all Ramie that I have seen and 
handled this could be vastly improved. The luxuriant specimens 
that I liave had from the Straits, show that the country is an ideal 
spot for Ramie culture. The only drawback is the moist climate 
a matter that is easily overcome in this country where most of the 
yarns have to be dried artifically and Ramie fibre could be tackled 
there in similar lines and be sent in to the manufactures ready for 
use. The idea of a trade of any dimensions ever springing up in 
raw-ribbon may be abandoned as these lose in removing the bark 
and gum 40% and in. baling must occupy two-thirds more space 
than the clean article would do. I have seen it stated that manu- 
facturers prefer to get their ribbon without being prepared in any 
way. That may be for small pottering concerns making special arti- 
cles at enormous prices. For even such it would be better and cheaper 
to get Ramie with the bark arid gum removed and the fibre in a 
condition that they could give it any extra finish that was needed if 
Mr. BAXENDALE has not already, done so. It would interest your 
readers to learn I have no doubt the height of fibre that a fair 
specimen plant will annually yield in the form of raw-ribbon as 1 
estimate that at one pound per plant he will h ive r8o tons worth 
at ^18 a ton ^3,240, All that is needed to make Ramie the huge 
success that it will and deserves to be, is the knowledge amongst 
growers of how to remove the ribbon from the stem in quantity with- 
out hand labour, after this is done to be able to get rid of the outer 
brown bark and gum cheaply and effectively. The grower has to 
get all this information for nothing as by paying for it he would 
be only putting his hand in his pocket for the benefit of others ; 
although in a very short time he could do all that I say. Those who 
could make this plain to him will not do so as few care to give away 
for nothing knowledge gained by expense as well as time and trou- 
ble so that I think this the RadcJyffe banner with its gay motto of 
Floreat Ramie will have to hang limp round its pole until some 
philanthropic soul pulls into practice without money and without 
price fee or reward the things that he professes to do and cannot. 
Excuse my going into this matter at such length. The question of 
Ramie treatment has been magnified by inventors and patentees 
who have even the best of them been a hindrance instead of a 
help to a fibre which on economic grounds could when intelligently 
handled from stem to finish excel all others except jute in cheap- 
ness and returns. 
I am yours, &c., 
JAMES ANDERSON, 
6 , Hillend Road , 
Arbroath . N, B, 
