544 EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE. 



Iii Flanders they sometimes sow clover or carrots among the 

 flax, from which they get a crop after that is removed. This 

 should not be done in any event until after the first weeding of 

 the flax. The practice is generally approved. That it is to a 

 degree prejudicial to the flax crop, there can be little doubt ; but 

 whether the profits of the clover or the carrots would more than 

 compensate the lessening of the crop of flax, is a matter upon 

 which there exists a diversity of judgment, and, in different cases, 

 undoubtedly a diversity of results. 



7. HEMP. The cultivation of hemp prevails to a considerable 

 extent in Flanders, and is expensive in the preparation of the 

 land, and the quantity of manure required. The value of the 

 crop is considerable ; the land, being well cultivated and highly 

 manured, is in a condition for two or three successive crops of 

 grain. 



The soil required for hemp is a strong, rich, moist loam, a 

 deep alluvion ; and it needs to be deeply cultivated and liberally 

 manured. It is not unusual to plough it eight to ten inches 

 deep, or to trench it with a spade a foot deep or more ; and it 

 should be finely divided and tilled. It is ploughed in the au 

 tumn, and then again twice in the spring ; but it must not be 

 wrought when it is wet, which indeed may be laid down as a 

 universal rule. A sandy clay loam may be considered as best 

 adapted to this culture. It likes a warm exposure and low 

 ground. It succeeds well after clover or potatoes ; and in some 

 places it comes as often on the same ground as every second or 

 third year. 



The manure which best suits hemp is horse or sheep manure. 

 If the manure is -coarse and strawy, it is ploughed in, and often 

 by the first ploughing in the autumn : but if well rotted, it is 

 applied in the spring, and near or at the time of sowing. It 

 requires a warm manure ; though the manure of cows, when 

 about a third part is added of night-soil, or manure from the 

 urine cistern, is an excellent application. The manure of 

 pigeons and poultry, ashes, and the cleaning of streets, is much 

 valued. To give a rapid growth to the plant, the manure must 

 be in a condition, that is, well rotted or short, to be immediately 

 taken up by the plant ; and with respect to hemp, there is little 

 danger from the seeds of weeds in the manure, as the luxuriant 

 growth of the hemp will overpower them. 



