5i 
intercourse between the state of the British Empire. Perhaps 
some of our readers may feel disposed to assist th£ Editor in the 
way he asks. 
‘ Editor. 
THE RAMIE GROWING ASSOCIATION. 
This Association suggested a short time ago has now crystallized 
into a solid entity under the patronage of a number of wellknown 
people, with Professor Eric DRABBLE* as Scientific Adviser. The 
circular states that it is proposed to form a Ramie Growing Associa- 
tion to foster the growth of Ramie throughout the Empire and thus’ 
add a valuable asset to British Agriculture commerce and industry. 
Mr. Edwards Radclyffe the Honorary Secretary of the Associ- 
ation writes in his ushal style concerning the cultivation of the plant, 
and its value most of which is wellknown to our readers, having been 
published and criticised in the Bulletin. The entirely erroneous 
statement that it is an easy crop to grow anywhere and that the 
fibre can be produced profitably at £10 a ton, still appears. 
There is no doubt that if the Association gets to work as steadily 
as the Cotton Growing Association has done, and after the manner 
adopted for such Agricultural and Commercial industries as is done > 
in Germany and elsewhere in the Continent, Ramie cultivation will 
at least have a good trial whether it succeeds on a large scale or 
fails. Nothing however will really come of it unless an intelligent 
Agriculturist versed in tropical and sub-tropical cultivations is first 
deputed to make an extended >visit to all pafts of the Empire, to 
find out why in so many parts of the world, a cultivation com- 
menced some fifty or more years ago and tried on and off on large 
and small scales by a large number of professional Agriculturists 
has steadily and persistently failed to give any returns at all. 
Attention is just now being paid more and more to fibre plants 
as the demand increases and the supplies do not, and there is 
probably a good future for Ramie, but it is absolutely essential 
that the pamphlets sent out by the Association are accurate and 
not misleading. Figures based on the cheapest labour in the world 
as that of China cannot be safe for countries where labour is five 
or six times as expensive, when dealing with a plant which requires 
a great deal of labour, like Ramie. 
In many parts of the world Ramie has, received a very bad 
reputation among planters, and it> is essential for the purpose of 
the Association that planters advised by their pamphlets should 
not experience further serious disappointments owing to misleading 
statements in their publications. 
If the case is put fairly before planters, further attempts to 
grow the plant will undoubtedly be made, and we may hope with 
considerable success. 
In any case if the members of the Association thoroughly study 
the question of cultivation in all parts of the Empire and under all 
P)/ 
