l6 CORDAGE FIBRES 



spicuous plant, growing not more than 6 to 12 in. high at the 

 base of the hemp stalks, and is usually not noticed until the 

 hemp plants suddenly begin to turn yellow and die a few 

 weeks before harvest time. In some instances a partial crop 

 is saved by cutting the hemp as soon as the first effects of 

 broom rape are observed, but the fibre thus obtained is usually 

 rather weak. The seeds of this weed retain their ability to 

 germinate for a long time, and lying dormant in the soil, their 

 eradication is rendered extremely difficult. They can develop 

 only on the roots of a few crops like hemp, tobacco and toma- 

 toes, and the best remedy is to leave these crops out of the 

 rotation on infested land for a period of at least twelve or 

 fifteen years. Apart from broom rape, which being parasitic, 

 does not require light, there are few weeds which can live in 

 the dense shade produced by the hemp as grown for fibre. 

 The hemp grows so fast and attains such a height that it 

 overtops all ordinary weeds and chokes them out. It is 

 generally regarded as an excellent crop for clearing land of 

 annual or biennial weeds, and it has been suggested as a good 

 crop for killing the growth of wild vegetation on reclaimed 

 river bottom lands. 



In America hemp is cut when the staminate plants are in 

 flower. The time of harvest varies from eighty to one hundred 

 and forty days from the date of sowing, the period of growth 

 depending upon the mean temperature and the supply of 

 moisture, and on the variety of seed sown. When sown at the 

 proper season, hemp in Kentucky is usually cut late in 

 August or September, and in California and Texas in July. 



In some instances good fibre has been secured in Nebraska 

 from hemp cut before flowering, but ordinarily the fibre is best 

 when the crop is harvested just before the staminate plants 

 are in full flower. If cut too early the fibre will be fine, but 

 lacking in strength, deficient in yield, and will waste at every 

 operation in its preparation. If allowed to become too ripe 

 the fibre will be coarse, harsh and brittle. 



