HEMP 423 



390. Soils for hemp. Hemp is at its best on a rich, 

 moist, limestone soil. But it also thrives on other than 

 lime soils if they are moist, but well drained. 



391. Cultural methods. The land is plowed flush 

 or broadcast and thoroughly harrowed. The seed is 

 sown through a grain drill run in two directions. This 

 insures a more even stand and a more uniform germina- 

 tion and early growth, both of which are desirable in order 

 to secure plants of the desired diameter, preferably half 

 an inch. The quantity of seed required per acre is one 

 bushel. The date of planting in Kentucky is late in April. 

 No cultivation is given after sowing the seed. Seed orig- 

 inally from China is preferred, though in its first year in 

 the United States it is believed to yield less hemp than 

 during each of the next few years. The small area in 

 Kentucky devoted to hemp grown for seed is planted in 

 checks, with hills about seven feet apart each way, and 

 with four plants in each hill. 



The Kentucky Experiment Station found that the use 

 of 160 pounds per acre of nitrate of soda and an equal 

 amount of muriate of potash profitably increased the yield 

 of fiber. 



392. Harvesting and preparing hemp for market. 

 Early in the fall hemp is cut, most of it by hand, but part 

 also by special machinery. The stalks are spread evenly 

 on the ground for about a week. Then they are raked 

 together, tied into bundles, and shocked (Fig. 187). The 

 Kentucky Experiment Station found it profitable to stack 

 the hemp, though keeping the hemp in shock saves expense. 



Late in November or early in December hemp is retted. 

 This consists in exposing it to cold and rain for about two 



