96 



THE COMPLETE FARMER 



thinned, leaving the stalks separated seven or eight inches 

 from each other. This operation is usually performed in 

 the blooming season, when the sexual character of the plants 

 is easily diGcernible ; the male alone blossoming, and, when 

 agitated, throwing off farina, a yellow dust or flour, which 

 falls and colors the ground, or anj^ object that comes in con- 

 tact with it. A few of the male plants had better be left, 

 scattered through the drill, until the farina is completely 

 discharged, for an obA'ious reason. Between the drills a 

 plough is run sufficiently often to keep the ground free from 

 weeds and grass ; and between the stalks in each drill the 

 hoe is employed for the same object. The seed plants are 

 generally cut after the first smart frost, between the 2'5th 

 September and the middle of October, and carried to a barn 

 or stack-yard, where the seeds are easily detached by the 

 common flail. They should be gathered after a slight, but 

 before a severe frost ; and, as they fall out very easily, it is 

 advisable to haul the plants on a sled, and, if convenient, 

 when they are wet. If transported on a cart or wagon, a 

 sheet should be spread to catch the seed as they shatter out. 

 After the seeds are separated, the stalks which bore them 

 being too large, coarse, and harsh, to produce lint, are usu- 

 ally thrown away ; they may be profitably employed in mak- 

 ing charcoal for the use of powder-mills. In Europe, where 

 the male and female plants are promiscuously grown together 

 in the same field, both for seeds and for lint, the male stalks 

 are first gathered, and the female suffered to remain growing 

 until the seeds are ripe, when they are also gathered ; the 

 seeds secured and lint obtained, after the rotting, from both 

 descriptions. 



After the seeds are threshed out, it is advisable to spread 

 them on a floor, to cure properly and prevent their rotting, 

 before they are finally put away for use the next spring. 

 Seeds are not generally used unless they were secured the 

 fall previous to their being sown, as it is believed they will 

 not vegetate if older ; but it has been ascertained that when 

 they are properly cured and kept dry, they will come up 

 after the first year. It is important to prevent them from 

 heating, which destroys the vegetating property, and for 

 that purpose they should be thinly spread on a sheltered 

 floor. 



The seeds, w^hether to reproduce seeds only, or the lint, 

 are sowed about the same time. Opinions vary as to the 

 best period. It depends a good deal upon the season. The 



