204 THE FARMER'S 



reception of the crop, they should be reduced into 

 a tine mellow state of mould, and be perfectly 

 cleared from weeds, by repeated ploughing. When 

 it succeeds grain crops, the work is mostly ac- 

 complished by three ploughings, and as many har- 

 rowings; the first being given immediately after 

 the preceding crop is removed, the second early 

 in the spring, and the last, or seed earth, just be- 

 fore the seed is to be put in. In the last ploughing, 

 well rotted manure, in the proportion of 15 or 20, 

 or good compost, in the quantity of 25 or 33 

 horse cart loads; as without this it is seldom that 

 good crops can be produced. 



The surface of the ground being left perfectly 

 flat, and as free from furrows as possible; as by 

 these means the moisture is more effectually re- 

 tained, and the growth of the plants more fully 

 promoted. 



Quantity of seed, Sfc. 



It is of much importance in the cultivation of 

 hemp crops, that the seed be new, and of good 

 quality, which may in some measure be known by 

 its feeUng heavy in the hand, and being of a bright 

 shining colour. 



The proportion of seed, that is most commonly 

 employed, is from two to three bushels, according 

 to the quality of the land: but, as the crops are 

 greatly injured by the plants standing too closely 

 together, two bushels, or two and a half, may be 

 a more advantageous quantity. 



As the hemp plant is extremely tender in its 

 early firrowth, care should be taken not to put the 

 s<»cti sito the ground at so early a period, as that 

 it may be liable to be injured by the eflects ef 



