3G 0^ HEMP AKD 



or ciiirabillt)', or In bringing to fight fubftitules equally good 

 Or better, particularly where hemp itfelf cannot well be had 

 mull be of immenfe fervice, particularly to tho mariner, and 

 to the commerce and the defence of nations. 

 Its cultivation in The cultivation of this important plant in our colonies has 

 titlertrfup ort "^^ °"')'» ^^ ^'^ times, met with encouragement from the 

 and encourage- government, but alfo of late from the Eaft-India Company 

 ment. {„ Bengal, where extenfive experiments were begun by the 



late Mr. Sinclair, and after his death carried on by Thomas 

 Douglas, on the culture of hemp and flax, on account of the 

 Honourable Company. A clear and impartial ftatement of 

 thefe trials is to be wiflied for, as it will, no doubt, throw 

 much light on the cultivation of hemp in India, and enable us 

 to proceed with greater profpefts of fuccefs than ever. 

 It may be very My own experiments and inquiries on the fame fuhje6t, 

 beneficially pro- j^^^j^ ^^^ ^j^^ ^^^^ ^^ Coromandel and Bengal, have been many, 

 duced in India. . ,-. . , 



though not extenfive. Their refult leads me to think, that 



hemp may be cultivated to great advantage over the interior 

 parts of Bengal and Behar, where the feed fliould be fown 

 about the beginning of the periodical rains, or earlier, if there 

 have been frequent flidwers, on elevated fpots cf rich loamy 

 foil, Aich as the Ryots cultivate tobacco, fun, and paat on, 

 near their habitations. In fituations of this nature it thrives 

 well, and will be eafily attended to. At firfl, forae en- 

 couragement will certainly be necefl^ary, to induce the Ryots 

 The Hindoos to undertake this new branch of agriculture. For, although 

 cultivate it only ^^g pi^^t is perfedly familiar lo every Hindoo, yet the cultiva- 

 tion on an extenfive fcale, for the fibres of its bark, is perfectly 

 unknown to them. I would tTierefore fugged, that they 

 fliould pay no rent for the ground fo occupied for a certain 

 period ; that feed ftiould be given gratis ; that they fiiould be 

 enfured a certain price for the hemp ; and finally, a reward or 

 premium to the perfon or perfons who produced the greateft 

 quantity of the befi hemp within a flated period. 

 Seafon for grow- In many parts of Bengal, particularly where the land is fo 

 '"^S it. low as to remain humid through the dry-weather feafon, hem.p 



thrives luxuriantly during the cold feafon ; but the water is 

 then too cold for macerating the plants to the greateft ad- 

 vantage : one day in June, July, or Auguft, has more effefl 

 in loofening the bark, than eight in December, January, or 

 February ; confequently, the prolonged immerfion injures the 



quality 



