46 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Jan., 1898. 
Mr. Mathieu then quotes a series of American experiments, the result of 
which is shortly :— 
ss a 
. one Weight of Stems Weight of Stems 
Countries a eas 5 Guvunes fa without Leaves and | without Leaves and 
4 Growth. Vent Topped per Cutting Topped per Acre 
x R per Acre. and per Year, 
————— 
Lb. Lb. 
BEST)! | Weta eae ea eel ye ae 4 10,700 “| 42,800 
Louisiana... at an u 3 to 4. 2 
12,880 25,760 
Texas : ; 2 
California—Kern Valley ' _ 4 12,600 50,400 
Algeria... a) at ai 4 3 11,013 33,040 
EE TE Ee ES eT a Ne pe 
Mr. Mathieu is inclined to think that after three to four years a ramie 
plantation in Malaya should give in four cuttings 20 tons of stems per acre 
per:annum. Such an estimate we (Tropical Agriculturist). consider most 
unreliable to work on as a, permanency, even on the richest soil and with. the 
best possible cultivation. Mr. Mathieu next proceeds to lay down. the cost 
of producing 1,680 Ib. of clean dry fibre per acre, worth £24 in London. 
This he totals up to $137-70 as a maximum, leaving a net profit per acre of 
$102°30 (about £10 5s.); but he also shows how, by the planter partially 
degumming the fibre himself, an ‘additional profit of $34:20°per acre can be 
made, thus bringing his total net profit’ per acre to $186°50 or £13 13s. 
(English). 
Finally, amongst the papers is an estimate from Mr. J. MacDonald (of 
MacDonald, Boyle, and Co., London) of the machinery necessary to decorticate 
and degum the produce of 1,200 acres of land, and of the profits to be made 
after putting the ramie through all the processes necessary to render it fit for 
the manufacturer, in which condition it will readily command £42 per ton in 
Great Britain. In France, as much as 2 francs per kilo (equal to about £90 
per ton) have been offered, &e., &e. 
‘We may as well put Mr. MacDonald’s sanguine figures on record, though 
we fancy few practical planters will put faith in those referring to return. on 
working of estate:— : oe 
Estimate of Cost—900 Acres under Cultivation. 
“Machinery ~.,. an x1 cr. .. £6,775 0 0 
Cultivation ; first twelve months’ expense 
after planting* .,, oe + eae 03520815) 0 
Cost of six months’ treating the fibre, say 156 
working days: se, ;:cMeginn se ih 8,269 12 0 
£6,477 17 0 
a Ee IEE PEE CR es ek me BS ere Pa 
* The cost of land, of plants, clearing and 
breaking up ground, enclosing, and planting ar 
wanting in this estimate.—Ed. Q.4.J. / ae ae aia HS Oe 
