America's Crop Heritage


 Watts imported more jute seed from India in 1874, and sent
them to farmers in California and the southern states where the
crop could be grown. The rotation of plantings of jute with rice
every other year was suggested as of possible advantage to both
crops. Samples of jute manufactured in Louisiana were sent to
the Department in 1874 by President Le Franc of the Southern
Ramie Planting Association. An inexpensive separation process
was thought to have been perfected, and in 1877 imported jute
was made subject to tariff duties in order to raise its price in
America. More than 900 papers of the seed were sent out for trial
in 1881. Eight years later, Rusk was convinced that the problem
of separating the fibers was on the verge of solution, but admitted
the production of jute remained in the experimental stage. Jute
production subsequently failed to receive notice in the reports
of the Department of Agriculture.
 FLAX AND OTHER FIBER PLANTS
 Several other fiber possibilities were investigated by the Depart-
ment. A plant called New Zealand flax was found to flourish in
the South. Like the ramie plant, the use of this flax was hindered
by a lack of technological progress in processing the plant.
 Increasing public interest in fiber crops led to the assignment
of Charles R. Dodge, fiber expert in the Department, to write a
special report on "Vegetable Fibers in the Collection of the
Department of Agriculture." Dodge discussed dozens of materials
including basket-weaving and stuffing materials.
 There also was a search on for paper-producing plants during
these years. The Esparto grass, from which paper was made in
England, was one of several plants introduced for this purpose.
Seeds of this grass procured in 1868 from Vilmorin, Andrieux and
Company, Paris, were distributed in the South. By 1870 several
species of palms had been imported for paper making. Other
fiber plants, some with names meaningless except to a plant
specialist, were procured by the Department in 1870. These
included the Manila hemp plant, the Paederia Foetida, and
various species of Hibiscus, Asclepias, Bromelia, and Urtica. The
sisal hemp and the cabuya fiber were received from San Domingo
and distributed about 1885.
 GRAPES
 Discovery of the Isabella grape by Mrs. Isabella Gibbs about
 1818, paved the way to an extensive development of the native