PLANTS FOR EXPERIMENT 195 



grown out of a suggestion that I made a number 

 of years ago to a large Boston paper manufac- 

 turer, to the effect that it seemed possible that 

 the fiber of the hemp might be used as a substi- 

 tute for wood pulp in the manufacture of paper. 



The experimental work is only at its begin- 

 nings, but it seems to be of considerable promise, 

 especially as to' improved size of plant, as a 

 crossbred variety has been secured which out- 

 grows all other hemps. The hemp, as is well 

 known, is a dioecious plant, and it may be well to 

 mention the simple but uncommon method of 

 making crosses. All the varieties are first 

 planted separately ; and only a few of the largest 

 and tallest male and female plants of each variety 

 are left to bloom. When the heads blossom, the 

 tallest and best of each variety obtained from 

 different sources are crossed with pollen of the 

 tallest male plants. 



After two seasons of this selection and cross- 

 ing of different strains from different countries, 

 the varieties were combined by crossing, as be- 

 fore, by selecting the largest and tallest plants, 

 out of which a new race was produced of giant 

 hemp. 



It was found that a hemp received from China 

 and one from Chile were at first the two tallest 

 and most rapid growers, but they were very shy 



