Voi.vm.—i 



AND HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL. 



855 



the iiiainifacturers <if canvas, after ie|ie,ited trials 

 to recoiimieiico llie iti]|)ortatiun of Irish flax ; 

 while others observe, that they have iiii|)<iile(l 

 none since the fall of 1821, heini; unahle toohtain 

 a sufficient su|)|)ly of American flax. 



It apjicars to he the universal opinion of expe- 

 rienced men, that the process of dew-rotting flax 

 diminishes its value and its weight, injures its 

 color, and impairs its quality and strength. The 

 experiments stated in the pa|)er C, aimexed, tend 

 to confirm this opinio:i. 



With regard to ' caliles and cordage made of 

 liemp, the growth of the United States,' many of 

 the observations previously made, with respei t to 

 flax, are, in a great degree, applicable to hemp. 

 In its natural stale, American is believed to be 

 ecpial to the best Russia ; but the almost univer- 

 sal custom of dww rotting it, is so deleterious in 

 its effects upon the fibre, as to present insuperable 

 objections to its use in the Navy. This process 

 not otdy weakens the fibre, but prevents the tar 

 from incorporating with ihe \arns, thus render- 

 ing it seriously objectionable, particidarly for cables. 

 The manufacturers of cordage further object to it, 

 because ' its staple is rough, and occupies more 

 time in the mamifacture ;' and 'generally comes 

 to market in a slovenly manner, with various 

 qualities mixed together, and badly cleaned.' 

 They say that cordage made of Russia hemp is 

 preferred by the consumer, at an advance of 50 to 

 100 percent; that dew-rotted cordage, 'by cx- 

 posine to the atmosphere, bccoines rotten, and 

 after being used a short time cannot be depended 

 on.' A gentleman of experience says, 'before 

 the late war we used some cordage made from 

 Kentucky yarns ; many persons did it for the 

 purpose of encouraging American productions ; 

 some of them had strong prejudices in its iavor ; 

 but after a fair trial those persons confessed to 

 rne that they must give up the use of it ; that ii 

 would not wear well, and they could not depend 

 on it.' The same gentleman further observes, 

 ' I would not use cordage made of Kentucky yarns 

 or hemp, even if I could procure it at half the 

 price of cordage made from Russia.' 



' Manfacturers and consumers of cordage ap- 

 j)ear universally to concur in these opinions. 

 Equally decided is their opinion as to the quality 

 of the Ameiican plant in its natural state. They 

 all say, thjit American hemp, pulled in the right 

 season water rotted, and properly handled would 

 make as good cordage as the best Russia. In- 

 deed, it has been forcibly contended that it would 

 be preferable, because Russia henij) is injured 

 from being heated on ship board — an injury to 

 which American hemp,. UBed in the Ujiited States, 

 would not be liable. 



' While lhe.se opinions appear well founded, 

 there is another consideration, which addresses it- 

 self inunediately and forcibly to the growers of 

 hemp in the United States. The difference be- 

 tween the produrt of given portions of plant, 

 water rotted, and dew rotted, is confidently be- 

 lieved to bo greatly in favor of the former mode. 



'Experiments have been made by boiling ami 

 steaming, to avoid either process of rotting ; but 

 the result proved unsatisfactory. 



' Pushing their experiments with a pcrsever- 

 ance which deserves, and must ultimately secure, 

 success, our countrymen have lately introduccil a 

 machine, called, " the flax and hemp dresser," 

 with a view to avoid altogether the process of 

 rotting. The power of this machine to disengage 

 effectually the woody part of the plant from the 



lint, is s|)uken of conridently by those >vlio have 

 seen it in operation ; but, whether the hemp, thus 

 prepared, will be as serviceable as the water rot- 

 led ; whelh(M-it will nut be more lialile in bulk, to 

 injury from the gum and imicilage which are 

 wlndly left in it ; or whether other objections may 

 not exist, are puiuts upon which the cojumissiou- 

 ers are uninformed. They have, however, en- 

 gaged a small supply of yarns from lienip thus 

 prepared, ami intend to make experiments to test 

 their Slrength and durability. 



' -About twelve months since, a gentleman pro- 

 duced a sample of cordage, made it is believed, of 

 American dew rotted henq> with the yarns dip- 

 ped in pyroligneous aiiil, and tarred about one 

 eighth as much as yarns usually are, |irinr 

 to being laid : calculating, that the antiseptic piop- 

 erties of this acid woidd obviate the injuries sus- 

 tained in the process of dew rotting, and impart to 

 the cordage a durability equal to that made of 

 water rotted hemp. With a view to an ex[ieri- 

 inent, the Cummisj^ioners have engaged enough 

 of these yarns to make a nine inch cable. Al- 

 though the gentleman speaks very confidently as 

 to the durability of cordage made from these 

 yarns, yet we are unable to discern how the jiy- 

 ioligneous acid can remedy the defects occasioned 

 by ilew rotting, and impart to cordage the proper- 

 ty of retaining a sufficient portion of tar for its 

 preservation, particularly when used as cables. 



' The proceedings of Congress, dining their last 

 session, and the opinions then expressed, that 

 American hemp, in its natural state, is efpial to 

 Rossi. I, and that the preference given to the latter 

 has arisen essentially from the manner in wUich 

 it is rotted, have induced some of our most res- 

 pectable farmers to engage in the cultivation and 

 preparation of hemp, u\mi) the Russian system. 

 The Conmiissioners have contracted for three 

 tons of American iiemp of this ilesrription, and 

 directed it to be made into cordage of various 

 kinds, in order to test its comparative strength and 

 durability with the best Russia, on board the ship 

 North Carolina. The result of ihis experiment, 

 if the American hemp shall have been carefully 

 gathered, at the right season, and |)ro])erry pre- 

 pared, will enable the Connnissioners to express a 

 satisfactory opinion upon the subject ; and they 

 cannot entertain a doubt, that in such case, it will 

 be in their power to say, that the American water 

 rotted hemp is, in all respects, fully equal to the 

 best Russia. 



' With regard to " the places where, and the ex- 

 tent to which, hemp may be cultivated," in the 

 United States, it may be' unreservedly said, that 

 the climate, throughout the whole country, is no 

 where unfriendly, and that lieinp may be cultiva- 

 ted advantageously wherever the soil is adapted to 

 it. It is grown in great perfection in the Eastern, 

 Western, and Southern States, as far South as, 

 and including Virginia. We have not heard of 

 any grown South of Virginia ; though, as it is 

 known to succeed well in warm latitudes, there is 

 no doubt it can be cultivated in our most Southern 

 States.' 



I liave the honor to be, with great respect, 

 Sir, vour most obedient state, 



JOHN RODGERS. 



lion. S. L. SoDTHARD, 



Secretary of the Nary. 



CalerpUlars. — A gardener at Glasgow, having ob- 

 served that a piece of woollen cloth which, blown 

 by the wind, had accidentally lodged upon a goose- 



berry bush, which was soon covered with Cater- 

 pillars, took the hint of putting pieces of stuff 

 upon other plants infested with these insects ; the 

 caterpillars took refuge upon them during the 

 night, and in this easy way the bushes were soon 

 cleared of them — Silliinan's Journal of Science. 



Robert Treat Pai.ne, Esq. of this city, has 

 beeii api)uinte<l by Governor Lincoln, under the 

 authority of a Resolve passed at the last session 

 of the Legislature, ' to make a general survey of 

 this Commonwealth, and from such survey and 

 such astronomical observations and calculations, 

 as may be made, to project an accurate skeleton 

 plan of the State, which shall exhibit the external 

 lines thereof, and the most prominent objects with- 

 in the lilies and their locations. 



Mr Paine's reputation as a mathematician and 

 astronomer, well warrant the confidence thus re- 

 posed in him. We hope that be will accept the 

 appointment and enter upon its duties without de- 

 lay. — Palladium, 



To Destroy Rats and Mice. — Mix flour of malt 

 with some butter, and add thereto a drop or two 

 of oil of annisseed ; make it up into'balls, and bait 

 your traps with it. If you have thousands, by 

 this iiieans you may take them all. 



Progress of Steam. — Tiie Glasgow ChroHiefe 

 mentions that in June next, four steam carriages, 

 with six wheels each,'ivill start between the cities 

 of Glasgow and Edinburgh. The number of pas- 

 sengers that can easily be carried by each vehi- 

 cle will at least amount to tsventytliiee. Th.« 

 distance will easily be accomplished in tliree 

 hours. 



CULTURE OF HEMP. 



It will be seen by all article in this ))ai)er that 

 the Trustees of the Agricultural Society of this 

 County, have offered liberal premiuins for the 

 most Biiccesslul experiments in the cultivation of 

 Hemp the present year. A very decided belief is 

 entertained by some of o'jr most intelligent 

 practical fanners, that this may become an impor- 

 tant and a profitable branch of agriculture, more 

 so, indeedrthan almost any other in this section of 

 the country. It is, therefore, desirable that the 

 ex[)enmeiit be fairly tried, and we hope that many 

 may be induced to engage in making it, that a 

 comparison may be instituted between our various 

 kinds of soil, in order to ascertain which Is best 

 adapted to the purpose. An imperfect experi- 

 ment may be worse than none, because it may 

 lea I to a conclusion the reverse of what a more 

 extensive trial might demoustrat-e to be a correct 

 and proper one. — Worcester Spy. 



SOAKING SEED CORN IN COPPERAS 

 WATER- 



An experiment was made last season by a gen- 

 tleman in Dennis of soaking seed corn in a solu- 

 tion of copperas, from 24 to 40 liours previous to 

 planting, as recommended in the New England 

 Farmer, and in Fessenden's New Englaml Far- 

 mer's Almanac. The corn thus soaked was mu- 

 touched by worms, while some planted on the 

 same piece in the common way, was very much 

 injured. A Connecticut farmer has made a simi- 

 lar trial and says thnt it was not only untouched 

 by worms, but yielded one third more. A pound 

 of copperas dissolveil in warm water is to be used 

 to a lieck of corn. — Barnstable Jour. 



