176 [Assembly 



This was the state of things just before the season for sowing hemp 

 seed. In 1846, many farmers declined sowing. Hemp seed was 

 abundant at twenty-five cents per bushel ; the customary price being 

 one dollar. In the course of the last three or four years, there had 

 been sent from the west some few lots of dew rotted hemp; it seem- 

 ed to be in greater favor with the eastern ship chandlers than for- 

 merly, comparatively with the common sorts of foreign hemp ; so 

 much so, that it was sold for one hundred and seventy-five dollars 

 per ton. This very sudden advance caused much of the western hemp 

 to go forward; the bagging manufacturers were at first unwilling to 

 give as much as the dealers bid for shipping. 



Shortly after this, however, a stir was made in the value of bag- 

 ging, and it went up to thirteen cents. The manufacturers were now 

 willing to pay the highest price, for it paid for exporting, but it was 

 not to be had, and several of the Kentucky factories had to get their 

 supplies from Missouri. These things occurred just before the past 

 season for sowing. 



Farmers are very willing to grow hemp, with a fair prospect of 

 obtaining one hundred dollars per ton. There would have been a 

 large crop put in last spring, if a supply of seed could have been 

 procured; but from the very low price of hemp, very little seed was 

 saved in 1846. Seed was not to be obtained at even two dollars 

 and a half per bushel; consequently, there will be a very short crop 

 in 1847. So there are two successive short crops. It is true a por- 

 tion of last year's crop was stacked over, that will come into market 

 with the present crop, but it is thought that all will be required by 

 the bagging manufactories at one hundred dollars per ton, if the price 

 ot bagging does not fall below twelve cents per running yard at 

 Louisville; that price, it is said, will keep out the foreign article. 



"Water rotting hemp is a new business with the western farmers ; 

 many errors and mistakes were committed in the beginning; experi- 

 ence points them out, and improvements are made and making ; a 

 better article is produced, the quantity increased and increasing, so 

 as to give a full supply for the Navy ot the United States, as the 

 service 'may require, and for commerce. 



Appended is a report of a test made by the superintendent of the 

 U. S. rope walk, at Charlestown, Mass., where all the cordage for the 

 U. S. Navy is made, showing the great strength of American water 



