25, Birchington Road, 
West Hampstead, N.W. 
THE COTTON CRISIS—A SUBSTITUTE. 
Dear Sir, 
Herewith I send you a copy of a letter sent to the Agricultural 
Department of our Colon . It will interest your readers., and, I- 
hope, induce them to agitate for State support, or, failing this, 
our leading Capitalists would find it a highly profitable industry, 
Could you not follow it up by a leader? There is no end to the 
possibilities of Ramie, and now that the Americans are cornering 
the Cotton trade, it is a splendid opportunity to prevent these 
tactics in future. You will confer a blessing on our Colon if 
you induce the start of this industry. You may rely on my co¬ 
operation . , „ , _ 
Yours faithfully, 
D. EDWARDS-RADCLYFFE.■ ■ 
£ ‘ To 
(C I would call your attention to the possibilities of Ramie 
(Rhea), which undoubtedly is the Textile •‘•of the future. If you _ 
can grow this fibre, which is easily cultivated, there is a vast 
trade with Europe possible. It would be specially welcome in- 
England as a rival to Cott.on, and would, do much to prevent the 
corner in Gotton so easily worked by American capitalists, as 
experience teaches us to our cost... A- -Laii oa s h ire cotton- Famine 
would not be possible if- supplies of Ramie were forthcoming. It 
would also help to make a self-contained Empire —w e should, produce 
all we want independently of other countries. The fibre is as easily 
worked as it is grown, and I see no reason why the industry should 
not be fostered in your Colony, from' cultivation to spinning, or 
even weaving (from the field to the loom). 
I would suggest the government provides seed or plants. It 
is easily grown from seed. In every district where the plant is 
freely grown, set up decortication and, degumming stations, such as 
mills grind the corn here or the central stations crush the sugar¬ 
cane in Queensland. If the government does not put up these 
stations, then' they should encourage the capita1ists - to form 
syndicates by giving a bonus on the amount produced. 
The degumming stations would be highly- profitable. 1st. The 
fibre would be extracted in the form- of ‘filasse, easily packed, 
and a great saving in freight effected as compared with ribbons. 
2nd. A profit would be made on the enhanced price the filasse would 
command as compared with ribbons over-burdened with freight. 
3rd. The waste products would 1 be a- source of income, and would . 
show a profit on the cost of working 'the fibre to filasse. The 
by-products are (a) The gum, which is very valuable, (b) the fibre 
in the leaves and lateral shoots ct>uld be worked into- paper pulp— 
this would command a high price, as- ft makes the finest paper. 
