1 Noy., 1897.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 391 
Ramie (Boehmeria nivea). 
THE CHINA-GRASS. 
Cotiatep By A. J. BOYD, 
Queensland Agricultural Department. 
Tr would appear from reports lately received that there is some probability of a 
machine being introduced to the colony which will effect the long-sought-for 
process of extracting the valuable fibre from the ramie plant, leaving it in a 
satisfactory state—z.c., clean, strong, and economically. Should this difficulty 
have been overcome, then we may look for a considerable extension of the 
industry, and its introduction for commercial purposes into this colony. It is 
well known that the plant will thrive in Queensland, and at the Kamerunga 
Nursery at Cairns it is cultivated with a view to future distribution as soon as 
the cleansing problem has been solved beyond doubt. It may also be seen at the 
Acclimatisation Gardens and Botanic Gardens in Brisbane. ‘There are two 
kinds of ramie. One is the variety named above. It is a shrub which grows 
to a height of 8 feet in suitable localities. It belongs to the order of nettles 
(Urticacee). The leaves are ovate, and notched round the edge on fairly long 
leaf-stalks, green above but white beneath. The flowers are very small, and 
borne on long hanging racemes from the axils of the leaves. They resemble 
those of an English nettle, and are greenish-white. The stems of the plants 
are woody, about as thick as a pencil, and when full-grown are reddish-brown 
in colour. 
The variety Tenacissima is commonly known: as Rhea-grass. It is 
distinguished by its leaves being greener, sometimes quite green on the backs ; 
and though there are forms of it in which the backs are whitish, they have not 
the conspicuous white colour of the real China-grass. The home of this 
variety is not clearly known, but it occurs either wild or as an escape from 
cultivationin Assam, Burma, Bengal, and Sumatra. It is generally said (we are 
quoting the Agricultural Bulletin of the Malay Peninsula, June, 1897) that the 
white-leaved ramie grows in temperate or sub-temperate regions, and the green- 
leaved rhea in hot climates. The former has been grown successfully at Kew out 
of doors, but the latter has failed. Both kinds are in cultivation in the Botanic 
Gardens at Singapore, and both grow exceedingly readily ; the rhea, however, 
does seem to grow a little faster. Atthe same time, as Indian rhea is stated 
to fetch always a lower price than China-grass, and the latter grows quite 
rapidly enough for all practical purposes here, it would be most desirable to 
grow ramie in preference to rhea. 
Oultivation.—The plant is always grown from cuttings, unless it is, for any 
reason, absolutely essential to use seed. Raising from seed is easy enough ; 
though slow; but as the stems are or should be cut before the plant flowers 
in a plantation, it would be difficult to procure ripe seed. Almost any bit of 
the stem, if sufficiently woody, will grow, but it is best to make rooted cuttings 
from the base of the plant. The stems underground push out stolons in all 
directions, which are, in old clumps, often tuberous, and portions of these 
speedily emit branches when cut and planted. Cuttings should be shaded at 
first till they are well established. 
Soil and Olimate—Very nearly any soil will do for ramie, except very 
stiff clay or very wet soil. Flooding quickly kills it. Partial shade suits it 
well, but it will grow exposed to full sun. It suffers somewhat from drought. 
A constant change from very hot and dry to heavy rain not only does not suit 
the plant but spoils the fibre, which grows irregularly unless there are no great 
yariations of climate. . 
