2 IS Cultivation of Arable Land. Hemp After-management of Crops of. 



The latter- is obvioufly the better practice ; as by pulling a large proportion 

 of the crop before it is in a proper Mate of maturity, the quantity of produce 

 muft not only be confiderably lefTened, but its quality greatly injured, by being 

 rendered lefs durable.* The expence of this operation varies confiderably in 

 different diftricts ; in fome it amounts to eighteen or twenty {hillings, while in 

 others it is equally well performed for eleven or twelve. After being thus 

 pulled it is tied up in fmall parcels, or what are fometimes provincially termed 

 .baits. 



But where crops of this kind are intended for feeding, they mould be fufFered 

 to (land till the feed becomes in a perfect (late of maturity, which is eafily known 

 by the appearance of it on inflection. The (terns are then pulled and bound 

 up as in the other cafe, the bundles being fet up in the fame manner as 

 grain, until the -feed becomes fo dry and firm as to (lied freely; it is then either 

 immediately threfhed out upon large cloths for the purpofe in the field, or taken 

 home to have the operation afterwards performed. 



The after-management of hemp crops varies greatly in different places where 

 their culture is encouraged ; in fome it is the practice to only what is called dew 

 ripen or ret the produce, while in others the general cuftom is to water ret it. 



In the former method, the hemp, immediately after being pulled, is carefully 

 fpread out in a very even, regular, and thin manner, on a piece of level old pafture, 

 on which it is to remain for five, fix, or more weeks, according to circumfhinccs, 

 being occafionally turned during the time. When the weather is (howery, this 

 is moftiy done three times in the week ; but in other cafes twice is commonly 

 fufficient. When the rind or hempy fubftance becomes eafily feparable from the 

 woody part or ftem, it is taken up and tied into bundles, either to be (lacked up 

 on the fpot, or carried home and placed in fome convenient fituation, where it may 

 remain until it can be manufactured. In this procefs, which is termed grafting t 

 great attention is requifite to prevent the texture of the hemp from being injured 

 by its remaining too long on the grafs. 



But the latter practice is much better and more expeditious, as well as more 

 general. In this the hemp, as foon as pulled, is tied up in fmall bundles, fre 

 quently at both ends. It is then conveyed to pits or ponds of ftagnant water 

 about fix or eight feet in depth, fuch as have a clayey foil being in general pre 

 ferred, f and depofited in beds, according to their fize and depth ; the fmall bundles 

 being laid in both a (traight direction and croffwife of each other, fo as to bind 



* Modern .Agriculture, vol, 111, + Corrected Report of Suffolk, 



