No. 91.
Mr. Williamson to Mr. Fish.
Guatemala, September 23, 1874. (Received Nov. 4.)
Sir: I have the honor to inclose you the fiber taken from a plant of Guatemala called “Escobilla,” which, in my judgment, is a species of jute, and which may become a very valuable agricultural product in our country.
It grows here with astonishing rapidity at any elevation, but acquires its best development at altitudes varying between 1,000 and 3,000 feet above the sea-level. It is not cultivated by the inhabitants, but the bark is used for strings, and a decoction of the leaves is used for washing ulcers. The plant grows so luxuriantly, that it is regarded as one of the worst enemies of a coffee-plantation. It will bear cutting to the ground four times a year in this climate, at any elevation between 1,000 and 3,000 feet.
On comparison with ramie, its fiber is found to be not quite so fine as the fiber of that plant, but, if put through the same bleaching process, I have but little doubt it would have nearly, if not quite, the same brilliancy, and would be suitable for many purposes of manufacture.
According to the imperfect tests I have been able to apply, it seems to be less brittle than the ramie fiber.
Believing this plant may become very valuable to our agricultural and manufacturing interests, and is quite as capable as either Asiatic ramie or jute of becoming acclimated and profitably produced in the alluvial lands of the Gulf States, and particularly of Florida and Southern Louisiana, I am trying to procure a quantity of the seed to send you for the Department of Agriculture.
The plant grows from the seed, but in this climate, when well rooted, it may be cut repeatedly for several years without apparent diminution of power of reproduction. It grows in straight stems, without branches, except near the top, where short-leaf branches put out, and attains a height of about 6 feet, under favorable conditions, without cultivation.
I learn from foreigners who have observed it for years that no animals feed upon the plant.
I do not believe it belongs to the nettle family, as the ramie, Urtica utilis or tenacissima, is alleged to do, but rather is a species of the Corchorus capsularis, or jute, of the Hibiscus-Malvacea family of plants. Being but an indifferent botanist, I hazard this opinion with diffidence.
To whatever order of filamentous plants it may belong, I have no doubt its fiber can be separated from the woody stalk by the same machine which has lately been invented in Louisiana for the purpose of making that separation in ramie and jute.
If you think it worth while to incur the cost of attempting to send on to the Bureau of Agriculture a few of the plants, I shall be pleased to undertake the task under instructions. .
Please do me the favor to send me the Annual Report of the Bureau of Agriculture for 1872, and also of 1873, as soon as published.
I have, &c.,