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hardened and our only mechanical requirement would be a machine 
capable of getting rid of the pith in the most expeditious way, 
A mechanical engineer whose reputation in the Straits is de' 
servedly of the highest and who assisted us in erecting and work- 
ing both decorticators, is of the opinion that his firm could con- 
struct such machinery in Singapore. 
13. As a catchcrop — Ramie is a suitable catchcrop for either 
Para rubber or coconunts. We have both products planted amongst 
our ramie and at the price given above, the profits from ramie 
might cover the whole expense of opening an estate within four 
years from planting. Planted a few feet from the trees, ramie does 
not affect the growth of either product,' Within five years from 
seed our rubber is giving small but useful returns and some of our 
coconuts are bearing crop at four years old. 
The first few weedings are expensive but the upkeep rapidly 
declines and no special cultivation would be necessary if the- plant- 
ing was done properly. 
14. State Aid — I suggest that the question as to what assis- 
tance Government might give to encourage the erection of degurn- 
mers in the Straits or Malay States might be left in abeyance 
pending evidence that practical spinners are interested in the 
subject. 
If you will be so good as to forward a copy of this letter to Mr. 
Edwards-RadCLIFFE he will no doubt lay it before his Spinning 
friends, and they will be able to decide if th^y can afford to guar- 
antee four pence a pound for filasse on the plantation, they to bear 
all expenses after decortication. 
Assuming that it costs them a further sum of four pence a pound 
to convert the ribbons into filasse and ship the latter to their spin- 
ning mills in Europe, it will only equal the quotations I have had 
for the best quality of cotton produced on the estate i.e. eight 
pence a pound. 
All the ramie spinners I have met maintain , the superiority of 
ramie to cotton, and if they are disposed to show that they have the 
courage of their opinion, I will recommend our shareholders to raise 
sufficient funds to open a large area with ramie. 
The question of Spinning and Weaving in the Straits might I 
think be left open until the degumming has proved a success. 
At the request of the Chairman of the Planters Association, I 
am sending a copy of this, together with Mr. EdwaRDS-Radcliffe’s 
letter, to the Hon : Secretary for discussion at our next meeting. 
I have the honour to be, 
Sir, 
Your most obedient servant, 
CYRIL E. S. BAXENDALE. 
