HEMP. 129 



sorts of cattle in the fall and fore part of the winter, be- 

 fore the ruta baga crop should be used 



To save the seed pure, plant the several kinds at as 

 great a distance from each other as possible. The sum- 

 mer and Avinter squashes, if they flower near together, 

 will degenerate ; and the neighborhood of a pumpkin 

 will deteriorate the future progeny of both. 



CROPS USED IN MANUFACTURES. 



Three other green crops remain to be treated of; 

 namely, hemp, tiax, and hops. ]>fone of these, how- 

 ever can be viewed as improving crops ; on the con- 

 trary, they may be characterized as robbers, that ex- 

 haust the soil, and return little, or rather no manure for 

 restoring its fertility. They are, however, all neces- 

 sary articles, and the culture of the tAvo lirst, may be 

 considered as materially connected with national pros- 

 perity. 



HEMP. 



This plant requires a mellow dry soil, and the richer 

 the better. It turns to but little account, where the 

 soil is not sufficiently fertile. It will grow year after 

 year on the same ground, if properly manured ; and it 

 is not so exhausting, as some other crops. It succeeds 

 well on drained swamps. If the soil be sufficiently rich, 

 it is the surest of any crop ; it is subject to no diseases ; 

 severe droughts but little affect it ; and cattle will not 

 touch it. It has been found to thrive well in New-Eng- 

 land. From two to three bushels of seed are requisite 

 for an acre ; two where the soil is middling, and three 

 where it is very rich. The goodness of the seed may 

 in some measure be known by its feeling heavy in the 

 hand, and by being of a bright shining color. It mist be 

 of the last year's growth. 



Let the ground be well mellowed, b}'^ repeated plough- 

 ings in the spring, and let it be harrowed before the 

 seed is sown, and then harrow the seed in. It should 

 be sown pretty early in the spring ; but not before the 

 ground has sufficiently dried and can be put in ample 

 order. The seed should be buried equally as possible, 

 in order that it may all start equahy ; otherwise a part 

 of tne plants will out-grow and keep down the rest. 

 *12 



