A VALUABLE NEW INDUSTRY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 148, 21 February 1916, Page 1

A VALUABLE NEW INDUSTRY.

Ramie Production.

Certain important developments in California during the past two years in connection with rßmie production are of special ioterest tu Australian producers. Tte ramie plant, though kindred to flax and hemp, is far superior in value, and has for a lengthened period been the subject of investigation in America, owing to the fact that, while its growth is timple and inexpensive, the preparatory process necessary before it can be placed on toe market at a profit have hitherto been legarded as next to iropossibla to overcome. Inventio-, however, has now succeeded in getting these difficulties out of the way, by the perfecting of certain machinery, which has now revolutionised the whole of the lamitproducing industry throughout the United States, but more particularly California. The commercial importance of ramie is indicatid by the statistics, shoAiog that for the year PJI2-13 tte importations into America of prepared ramie amounted ta 10,000,00'J tons, estimated to average in value £4O per ton, or a total of £40,000,000. In the making up of this average, it is explained that the market prices vary according to qualtiy from £35 per ton up to £SO, £55, and even as high aB £6O for the very finest samples. California has always stood first in the list as the larger importer of ramie amongst all the States of America, owing to its own production being limited by the preparatory difficulties already noted, and the removal ol which has led to the present revival of which Californian ramie production The notable development of this valuable new industry in California, or more properly speaking the revival in the growing of a plant with which Californians have loig been familiar, is, of course, mainly, if not almost entirely, due to the invention of the new machine, which now do:s the preparatory work cheaply, aB compared with the heavy expenses connected with it having formerly to be done by hand. Already in California ramie growing is ecknowkdged to be if not the test, at least one of the very best, paying industries of the State. A special feature of ramie is that it is one of the easiest of plant 3 to

grow, besides being perennial. As with lucerne, after being once plaoted it continues to produce yields for years afterwards. It sends its roots deep intu the ground, grows to a height of lour feet or five feet and yields from two to five ciops during the one year, although three is regarded 83 a fair average. The plant is not grown frnrn the Beeo, tut propagated from rootlets or cuttings put into the ground at a c'eplh of about sin, a foot apart and in rows 3 feet part. The average yield in California from one crop is 15cwt ot prepared ramie per acre, or 2 tonß Sewt whe:e an average of three crops are obtained within the year. Che orly tillage work after the first planting is surface scarifying between ihe rows to keep down weeds. The cutting of the crop is done with the ordinary mowing machine, when the stalks are gathered and put iDto s:ooka lor about two days to dry, and then they are ready for feeding into the machine, which does all the rest of the work, up to the bailing for the conveyance to the textile mills. A feature worth noting is that ail who, like the present writer, arc familiar with California, find that is climate, soil and general surroundings are es nearly as possible a counterpart of Victoria and South Australia In California, ramie is invariably grown in the irrigation districts; not that it requires irrigation all the time, but it is necessary to have an irrigation supply as a stand-by, when at certaio stages cf the crop, the cccjrrenca of a d/y spell would be against tnc certainty of a satisfactory yield. Any lecal implement manufacturer who may be inclined to consider introducing the new machine here could obtain all particulars by communicating with any of the growers at Lerdo, Keru County, which is the present centre of the largest ramie district, where th-is new development is now going on