Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 October 1868 — Page 4

Agricultural and Domestic.

The “Ramie.?:—_ < This plant, of which very j little is generally known, is coropnmttvely «tw in country. *** Its botanic name is u Boehm- 1 eria Tenacmima” belongs to the order “ Urticaria” is a lialf hardy herbaceous perennial; has deeply serrated, lieartshaped leaves, closely resembling the common nettle, to which jfcuniof plants it belongs, and really promises to become one of the most important and valuable fibrous plants known, and may finally supercede both cotton and flax, the textile fibre l>eing finer than cotton and stronger and more durable than flax, and has as glossy and pare a whiteness as silk: at a distance the plant resembles a fair sized Hydrangea plant (minus its flowers), with which most of your readers are no doubt acquainted; it grows wild in Java from whence it was brought by Don Beniton lice«*l, to Mexico and Cuba and subsequently, in 1867, to Louisiana where it is now being acclimated. It can be harvested three or four times each year, and yields six times as much fibre ns cotton, or rather w lhe profits on one acre are equal to that of six acres of cotton.” I am credibly assured that parties of ' great pecuniary means in London have offered sixty cents per pound for any quantity of it; for a long time irregular quantitfcs have been received of the Ramie from Java and India its native countries where it grows f> or 6 feet high. Caterpillars which annually destroy the cotton crop in different localities are not known to injure this jdaut; it will grow and flourish where cotton w ill and can be propagated by layers, cuttings or parting the roots. Though I have not tried it, I believe that plants can be raised from a single eye afe is practical with the grape vine. With all these facilities for propagating, a skiirfuLworkman cnrTsoon cover an acre from a single plant. The leaves are eaten with great avidity by cattle, w hich, in the absence of fences, as is too common in ~the South, and where cattle are turned out at large—is not a recommendation —but where stock is controlled as with com crops, for hist ance, the foliage may become serviceable and even very valuable where hay has to be wholly imported. It is said to yield six to eight hundred pounds of fibre to the acre yearly; allowiug the smal™TeF'figure~Sd: we have $360.00 per acre, as the cost of cultivation would not exceed that of cotton the first year, say, (except the cost of plants) fifty dollars per acre, and the same for cleaning the fiber, and fifty for plants, we have still left a clear profit of $2lO per acre. After the first year this perennial has only to be worked with plow' and cultivator and the cost of the subsequent crops will not exceed half of the first year, say $25, so that harvesting and, cleansing the fibre would be the chief labor and expense—say altogether SIOO per acre, ; In planting the “Ramie,” it should be put in squares 3 feet .. apart, omitting every 20th row for harvesting, on level ground which must be rich and deeply plowed—a foot deep will be better than 10 inches; this will startlfe the planters South” whose dtepth of plowing:is from 3 to 4 inches, at most; ancT oftener 3 than 4; and then are astonished if a dry or wet season mins their crop. As the plants grow the earth may be turned up to them, (as for blanching celery), when each shoot and branch will strike root and .strengthen the shoots for cutting* of prepare them for removal aa layered plants—spring an 3 fall being the best seasons for propagating, thougnit may be done at all seasons. The time to cut and harvest the stalks so? the fibre, is as soon as .they turn a brownishcolor, the] plant only grows more vigorous for each cutting, t£ie succeeding suckers gradually becoming and taller, and show

can be treated about the same as hemp, and a fiber 10 feet v|ong ha£ been grown in Louisiana, where a number of extensive -fields are now yielding iliiUdV, ■ - The only difficulty with the “Ramie” crop seems to be its preparation for market, on account of the extreme length of its fiber. American ingenuity however will soon surmount this difficulty, in fact a machine has already been constructed on which a quantity of thetfiher has been successfully cleaned and a prize awarded therfor at the Louisiana State Fair, as a new and valuable filler. The inventor of the machine has, I believe, plants for sale at reasonable rates. New York City. \

J. W. GREGORY.

How to Build an Ice House.

A subscriber wishes to know how to construct an ice house that will supply four families; whether to make above or below ground; in a grove by the side of a stream, or on the open prairie, etc. There are very few men who favor making ice houses under ground, as it is found that ice wastes faster from the heat deri ml from the earth than from that received directly from the sun. We would commend building in the shade rather than on the open prairie, as the air would be some cooler.— Near the stream would be a convenient site for the building, as it would be little trouble to put the blocks of ice into it, r and the spaces between the blocks could then be easily filled with water and frozen during some of the severest days of winter. Wood is generally regarded as the cheapest and best material to use in the construction of an ice house, as it is necessary to haye a hollow or double wall and % filling of some non-conducting substance in any case. A building eight feet high, eight Uy twelve on the ground, would doubtless be of sufficient capacity for stipylying- four families and allow one-fourtUo? the ice to go to waste. Many persons build ice houses by placing the sills directly on the ground; but our experience is that the ice will keep better if the building is entirely supported by upright posts, which we would prefer to have imbedded in charcoal.— Thijj allows a free circulation of air under the building, and provides for suitable drainage. — The only difference between building an ice house and any other building, is that it must be a double building-—one iiK as the walls are concerned. The space % betweeir the wall will depend upon the efficiency of the mon-conductor used for filling; if it is to be pulverized charcoal, six inches would be sufficient; but it saw dust or spent tan bark is to be the material, then a foot would be the proper distance. The floor may be made double like the the wall, or a single floor will answer if thete are several inches of strawput under the ice. The roof is sometimes made double like the wall, but it is a cheaper plan to make a floor across from the eaves, which may be covered on. the top with looaesaw dust. If this plan be adopted, the of the gable ends may be single, and a door can be cut through one of them and through the floor across the eaves, through which the ice can be passed into the building. It is well to divide off a few feet on each end of the building for a cooling room for milk' Or a room for keeping fresh meatand vegetables. The doors leading into and out of this room should be double like the walls, and may be either fitted with heavy hinges or made to slide. An ice house should be opened but once a' day, which should be as early in the morning as possible; and if several families use from the same, they should unite on & time in the morning when they will get their supply.— PrairieFanner. Kthuing Plantain.—A lady in North Carolina says plantain may be eradicated by cutting off the weed as near the roots

T H K UNION •;« - if JOB PRINTING OFFICE. •"* -~T . ' '■ . , ■_ ..j.* 4 ...... ■ WE would respectfully announce to the public at large that we are prepared to execute nlkkinds of plain and fancy job printing on the shortest notice and at liberal rates. We expect by prompt attentendon to our business, a desire to please and a long' experience to merit, at least a share, of public patronage. All w-e ask is a trial, and our wor shall speak for us. JAMES A HEALY, Proprietors. frf You Waning > POSTERS, Call at the “Uxioar” Job Office. If You Want » CIRCULARS, Call at the “Union” Job Office.

IF fW'WAIT 1 - ' ..v BHiI. HMDS, BMJL SSEiS " _L • ' \ , ... -•• ■- ’""'j. Professional Cards. FUNERAL NOTICES, r: - ELECTION TICKETS, Call at th# “Union” Job Office. . ..... :’ •» 1 SSS 111 I It is I » —). v f fully prepared tie do «11 kinds of work, we ask the" public to favor us with orders. We feel confident that we can i ™ ' V JAMES & HEALEY,

I. M. STACRUOCSE. C. D. BTACXUOUBI • ' .1: |Mk RENSSELAER FURNISHING —AND ' “*■«. ' ; "* . HARDWARE STORE. WE tieg leave to Invite the attention o the people? of Jasper end Newton counties, and the real of mankind, to our fell and complete stock of NAII.S, GLASS, SASII, IJOORS, I’UTTY, LOCKS, BUTTS, BTEA? HINGES, TABLE and POCKET .CUTLERY, WHITE LEAD, liN 6EED AND OIL and Iverytlilpg elso usually k.pl In a well regulated hardware store. >» . . ALSO. pOOKtNO AND HEATING V- ■> STOVES oj the latest style* and in endlss variety. TINWARE Of ail kinds; and everything else usually kept in a well ordered Stove store. ALSO. ' ED STEADS. CHAIRS,; TAPLES, SAFES CMgS, " WASH-STANDS, BUREAUS, and everything else nsuatly kept jn a properl conducted Furniture store. —..e t v — t —' mrr We keep constantly employed the very host of tinners and cabinet makers, and are therefore prepared to do repairing or job work, in either department, at till times. of all styles kept eon Zanily on hand or mode to order on short notice:,’at the lowest possible rates. WK make it our business (c furnish everything needed to BUILD Olijt URNISII i* house. Call fttfltee* ag btfore purclnflr-j; plbatv sl(***o 1 1 tt ‘ ‘ STACKHOUSE A 8110. The Merchants’ Protective Union Hkrnntilf Jhgififer. * i ... The Merchants’ Protective Union,organized to promote and protect trade, by enabling ita subscribers to utlniu fucillty and safely in the granting of credits, and the recovery of 'claims at all points, have to announce that they will, Ju September, 1868,publish iu one large quarto volume: The Merchants’ Protective Union Mercantile Reference Reu’ister, containing, among other things, the Names, Nature of Business, Amount of Capital, Financial Standing, ajid Rating as to Credit, of over 400,000 of tlie principal traders, bankers, manufacturers, and public companies, in more thnu 30,000 of the cities, towns, villages, and settlements throughout the United States, their territories, and the Britisii Provinces of North America; and embracing the most important information attainable and necessary to enable the merchant to ascertain at a glance the Capital, Character, and Dkoree of Credit of such of his customers as are deemed worthy of any gradation of credit, comprising, also, A NEWSPAPER DIRECTORY, Containing the title,character,price,and place of publication, with full particulars relative tt, each journal, being a complete guide to the press of every county in the United States. The reports and Information will be cutfined to those deemed worthy of some line of credit; and as the same will be based, os hr as practicable, upon the written statements o the parties themselves, revised, and correctcl by well-known and reliable legal correspoucents, whose character will prove a guarantee of the correctness of the information furnished by them, it isbelieved that the reports wil prove more truthful and complete, and, tbtrefore, superior to, and of much greater value, than any previously issued. By aid df the Mercantile Rises pice Register, business men will l»e enabled to ascertain at a glance, the capital and gndation of credit, as compared with financial worth es nearly every merchant, manufacturer, trader, and banker, wUblu tbs abovg naned territori. al limits. j -LOn or abotlf tint first of each month, subscribers will also receive the

NONTHI.T CHUOVICI.E, Containing, among other thiigs, a record of such important changes in tie uameand condition of firms, throughout -he country, as may occur subsequent to tie publication of each halt-yearly volume of the Mercantile Reference Register; Price »f The Merchants’ Union Mercantile JJtelerence Ueglster, fifty dollars, IDO, for which It will be forwarded to nnr address In the United States, transportation paid. Holders of five $lO shares of the Capital Stock, in addition to prtlcipatiug in the profits, will receive one c>py of the., Mercantile Reference Register free ofeharge; holders of ten shares will be entitled to two copies; and no more than ten shires of the Capital Stock wifi be allotted to jdv one applicant. Allretnittanccs, irders, or communicatioos ralalTre to the bool should be addressed to the Merchants' Proteclve Union, in the American Exchange Bark Building, No. 128 Broadwayj {Box SSfiK.jNew York.

—— —■—f —■ —■■ - '1 — JAsFEK county land agency. M’CONNELIis , -1.-. - Law and Eeal Estate Office, t' i* In Laßae’g Stone Building, Up 6Uir», RENSSELAER INDIANA. "D EAJ, Kfitatc bought, sold end exchanged JLV Titlefl examined and ntmtracU made Taxes paid, and land sold at tax sale redemod Ilonds, deeds, notes and mnrtages executed and everything relating to the • Real Estate Business carefully and satisfactorily attended to. Having for the past five years given more than usual attention to REAL ESTATE LAW, my friends can raly upon having hualness entrusted to me relating to PARTITIONS, ORDERS OF SALE, FokiECLOSURES, QUIETING andPERPECTING TITLES, nnd Cf)NVEYANCING, attended to in the safest and best manner. I offer for sale THE LARGEST AMOUNT and greatest variety of land for sale In the county, and both Buyer* and Sellers e-ill find my office the best place at which to apply. Carefully prepared. Maps and Plats of th 9 Town and _ / County , showing thedoettfion and ownership of every' piece of land m the county can be found only at my office, and ate open to the inspection of all. _ • - yi. ■ ~ • ■ . .... , -• which-T-hreye for sale. and if you want to sell any propertyr let me have a dcsci ption of your land. No charge unless a imlr is made. Information about lands in my pert of the county furnished without churpe.uuml letters of inquiry, cuelosing stamp, promptly answered. —u _ ULI.N'i 1 IpllfH-T THE I’I.ACK M rANVELL'S I,aw and Land Office, in L.« Hue's ’tone building, Heppsetne r . Indinna. l-s.-ts. WM. !.. MVONNEbL. CITY DlfSTOj lUilNiisSEli Alili- I-V l Wesley Thompson,Proprietor. We take pleasure in thanking 'lie eilizeus of jasper county, for fiieir liberal patronage during the last few years, arid would respectfully solicit the continuance of the same, knowing that we > Can Always Satisfy Customers, by giving them a good article of whatever they wish buy. , and always kusw what kihd cf goods we are getting. \Ve have row on hand, and are receiving ; 4 ; A GOOD STOCK OF D H 'O’ MEDICINES. CHEMICALS. DYE STUFFS of all descriptions, TOILET ARTICLSS Jd* such as BRUSHES, •' , COMBS, 1 COSMETICS TOILET POWDERS, . TOILET SOAPS, yPFRFUMERY, , &.C., &.C.,

PAINTERS GOODS, such 08 OILS, PAINTS, JVARNESHES, STRIPING BRUSHES, PATENT DRYER, &C.»&C. PUR E> WINES AND LIQUORS sold ouly FOR MEDICINAL PURPOSES •VA variety of DRUGGISTS* SUNDRIES, too numerous to mention. We keep constantly on hand a complete assortment of School, and Blank Books, STATIONERY OP ALL KINDS, Miscellaneous Books ordered when, wanted and saicsfaetion guaranteed. ; w -’ t . ail assnrtiftuit of v TOBACCOS & CIGARS all of which we can toll as low as any house Iff 'town<- ' f. • ’ •

C. W. HINKLE. DEALER IN 3>R. XT Or JS ANI) IVTEIDICITSTES, PAINTS and OILS, VARNISHES an DYESTUFFS, Has now now on humt it titrge and sa*.. . _ well selected stock. L E- r i-t. -‘™ Iff« also hoops n largo stock of PATENT MEDICINES, and among these are v > * ■ 1. OJfKGQItYB OIL, for tlio Tamps. No need of anybody dying with the Consumption. Grim monster Dentil litis received his last furlough, and the last place tie was heard of wasrstaiidinp guard at the White House, and here lot him remain in peace. He will not trouble the customers of Henkio’s Drug -store. C. w. Hiukle KEEI’P ft large and well-selected Stock of STA > I ONER Y. such as School Books, of the prosont uso, (and fotne that is not In me) * 7 YVail Paper, Window Curtaire-, ' ' Noto and Letter Paper, A Superior Article of FLAT CAP Pens, Writing Ink. Ac. : S i ■-- - . PERPITMERIE 3 of all kinds, from NIGHT lILOOMING CERES to JIALMofa THOUSAND FLOWERS. \ ' WI 11111 ■■ ■■■■iJHJ lie kedjis trWi a large *varlaty of SI)A I’S, such us Castile, Honey, Yankee, t Glycerino, Sassafras, * • ~ J — 1 —— Ac., Ac.. Ac., Ac. He keeps a good article of Lhjuors, such as BIUNDY, WINE, (lIN, WHISKY, uses only. LAMPS, of all descriptions ; CHUMiEYS CUVEIiS, CLEANEUS, Ac. He keeps a general assortment of Cigars and Chewing Tobacco, s and has a fair article of Smoking Tolweco. He would say to tlio community in generaP that he is thankful for past favors, nnd hopes by diligence to business to share your liberal patronage. Physicians prescriptions carefully prepared at all times of the night. C. W. HENKLE. 1-icly. . . - CATARRH CAN BE CURED! Headache relieved, and iitfaet every dinette of the nose and head perijjkjiyttly cured by the uae of the well-known remedy, * Raeder’s German Snuff! A DEtIOHTFCL »XI» PI.KSSaNT atHIDY 111 CATARRH. HEADACHE, BAD 3RKATH, HOARSENESS, ASTHMA, BKOXCHITIS..COUGHE, DEAFNESS, AC, and all Hitorders resulting from Colde io Head, Throat, and Vocal Organs. Tbit Remedy doea hot “oar or'’ a Catarrh, bnt Loosens it; frees the head of all offeaeive rnattci'. quickly removing Had Breath and Headache; *i.. cits and rootiiks the a’aKiaa ntt-rin Qatarrh; ia »o »ud and iuaatijujnitaeffects thttit i Positively Cures Wfthnut.Sneeaingl Try it. far it co«U hut 35c.' F.or §al,e hy alt Drug eitta, or send 50 c. to O. P. SEYMOUR dt CO. Boatoa, ted receive a box by return mail. 321 7

: t Hi THE HOWE MACHINE GO.'S SKIVING MACHINES, 699 BROADWAT, ,j . New 'Porta FOR FAMILIES AND MATfOFACTCTKRS THESE WOITLrT-RENOWNED SEWING .MACHINES i Were amrded the highest premi - mg um at the Wurld’s Fair in Lon - Sul don , and six Jim premiums at the Sjji New York Slate Kir of 18(16, And are celebrated for d»ing tile bfil work.uxiiig " much email.; needle for fStfl the Mine thiead than a„ v ot|,er wSZSM machine, and by the introduction £3l of 1 the most apprtved machine,y_ we imM arc neW a"hle lo aupply the very beat IMM machines ia the world. f^9l | Tlicse mucliiin-snrrnrr.de Wl at our new and Mpacioua Wl Factory at llrldseport Conn., under the Inimcdi mii ate supervision of tlic I'res- PH|| dent or Ine Company, pH| TILI.aS HOWE, Jr., < lie gnj original Inventor of tltc jsjj Sewing itlacliiue. pjjl They are aday.ted to all klndsnr Family Sewlnf and to the use of Seamstresses,-Dressmakers, Tail ors, Manufacturers of Shirts. Collars, SkirtaCloaks. Mantillas, Clothing. Hats, Caps, Corsets, Boots, Shoes, Harness, Saddles, Linuen Goods, * Umbrellas, Parasols,ike. They work equally well upon silk, liiinen. w oolen and cotton goods, with silk, cotton or lie non thread They wt-H perform every species ol sewing, making a beautiful and perfect stitch, alike on both sides of the articles sewed. The Stich invented hy Mr, Howe, and made, on this Machine, is the most popular and durable, and all Sewing Machines art subject to Vie'principle invented by him. SEND FOR CIRCULAR. X O. BRYANT, GENERAL AGENT, 98 Washington Street, CM/CVfG O, HX 3-99. .THE UllEtT t ti'SE M or Homan Misery. Just l'buli*hcd, in a Seated Kncetop. Price 6 cents A IsMt-iure m» 4h« ftal u re, T rwU>--111**1* I <i iml t ti re of Seminal oi SpermatoniKea. induced hy If-Almsei iiiv.tluii larv eniiß.<ii)u?«. lun»oten cy, N« ,rv '-u> i‘«- , t!!i; v, fiit-l 1 mpetlitutMi lx Nfar* nore-s-sfitcrally; Kpilcpity, ami Kitaj'* Mental tiid PTrysit-Tl incapacity e«c.—l’»y KOH. J. CWtiH WR .j, jtrit; Autnor Of the *‘firccn Hook.’ tYc '!'he\Vorld-rr autlfor in thin admit able I.ecture, ctnnrly ]>nrvcs from hts nvn expeutuuf tbaf tii® awful const:<iuenctvn us Self-A b.i sc may he effectually removed u 1 tl Mint liie.li.vthe. ~l|.l wiilo.iii daimeiuuft opieravioiiH, bougies, l’inus, or cortHals, pointing <mt a mode of curt- at f’HCt ceriaiu and effectual, by wl sufferer, nr* matler vvltat Ins copdition may b , may cure himself cheaply, pvivateiy, and radically •''cut under seat, uj h plain envelop loan) ad dress, on receipt of nix frfut*, or two p.'sitast* slumps, by iniblisheis. A Iso, IJ If ; J•i: K V Ki< W BLi/>i * (iuiqfti*: price *jr» cents A<idreas tin: i*ir lishern, HLY im.kk !.iv rr ri\:r n " \ 1 I'iT Hvi weey, N. Y., H .t J.i-'O 1.1 ME! " rSTn'ki nnMi’isf.'Tml ti.'Tx -fnT mis R ills lUii'.-k’iui!!) Slidii in lietis »- l;ier, :> supi rior urticht of tatiasu jmlnis’iiii F.nrF.,' - which In- oiU-rs for stiii* in large or snt:<lLr|uaHlilies, ill (iricos lo suit pur-" cliasurs. Scikl in v<>hk mdlfs cariv. N< )JRM A N NY AR N i-. 11. Apr! i 7. I.SUR. - : Stackhouse & Bro. i.m)i:kt.vk::hs KEN6SELAEH, INDIANA. Are now prcpnreil ( > (ill all orderHfor (.'ottins ol every style. Onlcrs left either at AI. Eger’s shop or the Hard-' ware Store, will lie promptly aiteutleil to, at the lowest possible rates. -I 1-tt The Old Undertertaker, WILLIS J VfRIGHT, 1 j Ilns Coffins of nil sizes on hi n.rl. and is n r-i to fill all ord-rs lorany style, plain niilfl fancy,lit reduced prices. 3-it-J-fiu MM iMEA~R r V. SJU Til, , ■M P UMP MAKER. I HOUSE & SI6NTMNTKB AND 9 aaataaa. I ' "Libel lli Ollier." 1 DUVALL'S 1 BLACKSMITH SIIOj9 Ib in operation, next above the Express O$M RENSSELAER, Ml kinds ol blucksauitliiiifj -- -- ■ • -vPICTURE <UW.i KKC9§ THOSE wnuting anything ‘ n I‘icture line, such as Ambrotypes, Gems, or copies Pictures taken, wi do well t o COHn an early day, us the Pioprieler mg ni' liis business, preparab>o’ moving to Sat Lake City. jHp.ll Now is the time to get I as he intends to close out his ffl' I utoek, if at a saeritlee. Stt fl| March 17, lAfiK, J> ' B ' 1 ‘ 9 J