Cultivation of Arable Land. Hemp. After culture of Crops of. 2! 7 



The moft general method of putting crops of this fort into the foil is the broad- 

 cad, the fred being difperfed over the furface of the land in as even a manner as 

 pofilble, and afterwards covered in by means of a very light harrowing. It is 

 probable, however, that in many cafes, efpecially where the crops are to Hand for 

 feed, the drill method in rows at fmall diflances might be had recourfe to with 

 advantage ; as in this way the early growth of the plants would be more effectu 

 ally promoted, and the land be kept in a more clean and perfect (late of mould, 

 which are circumftances of importance in fuch crops. In whatever method the 

 feed is put in, care mud conftantly be taken to keep the birds from it for fome 

 time afterwards. 



This fort of crop is frequently cultivated on the fame piece of ground for a 

 great number of years, without any other kind intervening j* but in fuch cafes 

 manure mult be applied with almoft every crop in pretty large proportions, to 

 prevent the exhauftion that muft otherwife take place. It may be fown after 

 jnoft forts of grain crops, efpecially where the land poflefTes fufficient fertility, and 

 is in a proper ftate of tillage. 



After-Culture. As hemp, from its tall growth and thick foliage, fbon covers 

 the furface of the land, and prevents the riling of weeds, little attention is ncceffary 

 after the feed has been put into the ground, efpecially where the broadcaft method 

 of fowing is practifed ; but when put in by the drill machine, a hoeing or two 

 may be had recourfe to with advantage in the early growth of the crop. 



In the culture of this plant it is particularly necelTary that the fame piece of land 

 contains both male, and female, or what is fometimes denominated fimble, hemp* 

 The latter kind contains the feed. 



When the crop is ripe, which is known by its becoming of a whitilh yellow 

 colour and a few of the leaves beginning to drop from the Items, and is common 

 ly about thirteen or fourteen weeks from the period of its being fown, according 

 as the feafon may be dry or wet, the firlt fort being moltly ripe fome weeks be 

 fore the latter, the next operation is that of taking it from the ground, which 

 is effected by pulling it up by the roots in fmall parcels at a time, by the hand, 

 taking care to make off the mould well from them before the handfuls are laid 

 down. In fome districts the whole crop is pulled together, without any diltinc- 

 tion being made between the different kinds of hemp; while in others it is the 

 practice to feparate and pull them at different times, according to their ripenefs.f 



* Mr. Young, in the Agricultural Report of Suffolk, has remarked it to have been grown in fuo 

 ceffion for feventy years together. 



t Correfted Report of Suffolk. 

 VOL. II. F 



