53 
Faure Machines are now in practical and successful operation 
Bengal Java, and the United States of America, and the fibre produced 
by thern meets with the entire approval of the spinners, so th^t the 
mechanical extraction and preparation of Ramie can now be considered 
to have passed the experimental stage. 
Large markets for the fibre exist in China, Japan, India, and 
America; and on the Continent, where Ramie spinning and "paving 
is an established and remunerative industry, the demand for the fib 
notoriously exceeds the supply. The more important Continental 
Ramie mills have evinced the greatest interest in, and will eage > 
welcome, any possible increase in the regular supply of uniform and 
fine fibre, as* at present they have to a large extent to depend on 
irregular shipments of native-grown or wild fibre, more or 
imDerfectlv prepared by hand. Given an assured supply of good 
oualitv fibre there is justification for the conviction that, within a very 
short time, the industry in this country also would acquire dimensions 
proportionate to its merits. 
Extracts from Journals, etc. 
The British Trade Journal of 1st March, 1905, quotes as follows^from 
the report of the United States Consul at Plauen (Saxony) . 
" Ramie.- 1 desire to draw attention to the growing demand for 
Ramie' in the textile industries of this country. The long, strong, and 
glossy fibre of this plant serves as an admirable substitute f °t Aa ’ 
fnttnn or silk and only its present scarcity and cost prevent a largel} 
increased consumption? If. P as was so long and earnestly insisted upon 
bv the late Professor Waterhouse, our Southern States are specially 
adapted for the successful cultivation of this plant, it cannot be too 
strongly urged that experiments in cultivating it be more wide > 
extended. The raw material will find as ready a market in Europe as 
would flax fibre.’* 
The Foreign Office Consular Report No. 3280 (P a g e 53) states 
“ Inquiries have been made as to the quantities of Ramm, 
China could be expected to furnish annually. It is stated that, could 
a minimum of 100 tons per week of floss, or filasse, be guaranteed, 
th”e would be an instant conversion or alteration of present machinery 
to deal with it. Under the present conditions, however, it is difficilt 
see how even 100 tons per week could be got together, when the 
quantity exported is so insignificant as not to be deemed worthy of a 
separate classification in the Customs returns. J, 1 - n ^ f 0 t h eft b 
remembered that there is a strong home demand (Chma)Tor the fibre 
which is woven into the material known as grass-cloth, and that 
purchasers on behalf of the native looms will inevitably co ™P ete ' 
(Shipments of grass-cloth from Kiukiang to other ports in China 
amounted in value to £53.9°° ln ^ 0I ' ~ 67 ’ 74 ° ln Ig02 ’ and £ 9 8>8l ° 
