HEMP. 197 



cultivation, but on a similar soil, which should be in the 

 finest condition as to fertility and pulverization. An old 

 pasture or meadow heavily manured and plowed in the fall, 

 and well pulverized in the spring, furnishes the best soil. 

 I quote from Judge Beatty's essay on practical agricul- 

 ture : , 



" The seed should be planted either in hills or drills. 1 

 prefer the former, because it admits of easier and better cul- 

 tivation, as the plow can be used both ways. It is usual to 

 plant five feet apart, each way, and suffer four or five stalks 

 to stand in a hill until the blossom hemp is -removed, and 

 then reduce the number so as not to exceed two stalks in a 

 hill. Thus there would be two seed plants for each twenty- 

 five square feet. It would be a better practice to make the 

 hills three feet six inches apart, each way, and thin the hemp 

 to three stalks in' a hill, till the blossom hemp appears ; at the 

 proper time, cut out the blossom or male hemp ; and if ne- 

 cessary a part of the seed hemp, so as to reduce the latter to 

 one stalk in the hill. A - 



The ground for hemp seed, having been well pulverized 

 by plowing twice, and running the harrow, lay off as above 

 directed, and plant in the same manner as corn. Twelve 

 or fifteen seed should be scattered in each hill. Soon after 

 the hemp comes up, run a small plow both ways, once in a 

 row. If the ground is not foul, the plowing may be delayed 

 till the hemp is a few inches high, which will enable the 

 plowman to avoid throwing the dirt on the tender plants. 

 The hoes should follow the second plowing, and clean away 

 the weeds, in or near the hill, and thin out the hemp to seven 

 or eight stalks. These should be the most thrifty plants, 

 and somewhat separated from each other. Repeat the 

 plowing to keep the ground light and free from weeds. 

 When the plants are about a foot high, the hoes should again 

 go over the ground and carefully cut down any weeds or 

 grass which may have escaped the plow. The plants should 

 be still further thinned out at this time, leaving but four in 

 a hill, and some fine mold drawn around the plants, so as to 

 cover any small weeds that may have come up around 

 them. After seed hemp has attained the height of a foot 

 and a half, it will soon be too large to plow, but it ought to 

 have one plowing after the last hoeing. The ground, by 

 this time, will have become so much shaded by the hemp 

 plants, as to prevent the weeds from growing, and nothing 

 more need to be done but for a man to follow the plow, and 



