Mexican Textile Plants.

Manawatu Herald, 18 October 1892, Page 3

Mexican Textile Plants.

*_ , (Continued). the pita. This plant, which abounds in the wild state io Oaxaca, gives a fibre resembling that of the ramie, ancl answering the same purposes. Ropes made wi*h Oaxaca pita are four times stronger than those of hemp ; they do not require to be tarred, and atmospheric .^nations have scarcely any influence on them ; besides which, pita weigh? 25 per cent less than hemp. At present there is no machine can be used in the preparation of this plant —a fact which may serve as a hint to some ingenious American to put on his thinking cap and supply the demand. It comes principally from the rich region which extends from St Rosalie (Chihuahua) at the banks of the River Nazas in the State of Durango, to the " Laguna," in the State of j Coahuila. The coasts of the States of Vera Cruz. Oaxaca. Guerrero and Colmia and Jalisco produce it in great abundance ; and it is fonnd in oertain districts in the States of Chihuahua, Coahullo, Nuevo Leon and Durango. THE RAMIE PLANT. This wonderful fibre plant is most interesting, as is tbe knowledge of all that treats of this plant, ; to the culture of which Mexico lends itself ; so that we will permit ourselves to enter into certain details which, while they may be Icnown to some ofthe readers of these pages; are doubtless unknown to most of them. \J- The ramie (rticanivea) isaplant.the stems of which have a height of four to five feet. The climate, which is propitious to its oulturei is a hot one, say a mean tempe**ature of 20 degrees, C— 6B degrees F— corresponding in Mexico tp a height of about 800 feet above the sea level. The land should be moist or irrigable, rich in humus and perfeotly permeable, in order that the dampness which accumulates may not rot the roots. More than the equal of hemp, ramie is preferable thereto beoause it is perennial. All soientiflo authorities are in accord ln saying that the ramie fibre is guperior to every other vegetable fibre in length, in strength, and in beantj, because it is fine, silky and brilliant. It answers not only for the manufacture of cordage, but also to weaving and manufacture of hand kerchiefs, curtains, carpets, hosiery and table linen; and it may be substituted completely for ootton; flax or hemp, or mixed with wool in the mannfaoture of merinos and even in cloth. The importations into England, which used to be only about 7,600,000 pounds, have since increased more than tenfold. In Yorkshire more than seventy-six factories are devoted to the manufacture- of the ramie fibre, and they export a considerable quantity of their products to the United States. In France also the ramie industry is developing considerably, five or six larg^oompanies being organized to work it. Among these might be mentioned in particular the one of the establishment at Yolore, near Avignon, which has 1,000 spindles running. (To be continued.)