!40 farmers' and mechanics' journal. 



year like the common weeds, from the seeds which it sows itself. 

 There could not be a better or more suitable and profitable crop 

 for new lands. It yields from 600 to 1000 lbs. of clear hemp per 

 acre, and when properly prepared, brings, in the market, if of mid- 

 dling quality, ^200 per ton. Tlie principal labor is in the dressing 

 and preparing. It should be water-rotted : Every town ^ur; ishes 

 convenience for doing this, and a little experience will soon enable 

 one to regulate this part of the business understandingly. 



There has been a prejudice against American Hemp which has 

 prevented its use ; but this prejudice arose from the improper man- 

 ner of preparing it. It has been found that the fibre of American 

 Hemp is better or stronger, than the Russran, when prepared like it. 

 This has been proved by the experiments of the Navy Commis- 

 sioners, who were directed by Congress to institute a course of ex- 

 periments on the subject. They made the following Report : 



Navy Commissioners' OrncE, 



nth December, 1827. 



Sir, — The Commissioners of the Navy duly received your let- 

 ter enclosing a resolution of the House of Representatives, of the 

 2d of March last, requiring a report of the result of any experiments 

 to ascertain the quality of American water-rotted hemp compared 

 with Russian hemp ; and, in reply, they have the honor to state, 

 that all the experiments heretofore made of these different descrip- 

 tions of hemp, hav3 uniformly tended to establish the opinion, that 

 the American hemp loses nothing in the comparison, whether we 

 refer to its strength or its durability, when made up into cordage. 



Experiments have been made of these hemps in their hatchelled 

 state, before they were spun into yarns ; and, in that state, the 

 American hemp was found to be the strongest ; and, after being 

 made up into cordage, and tested on board of a ship under the com- 

 mand of one of the present Commissioners, its strength and dura- 

 bility were ascertained to be fully equal to cordage made of the best 

 Russia hemp, similarly exposed. If there be a difference between 

 the best American and the best Russia water-rotted hemp, when 

 brought to our market, the Commissioners would unhesitatingly 

 say it is in favor of the former. Admitting their staples, in their 

 original state, to be equally good, the Russia hemp is certainly lia- 

 ble to greater injury from transportation ; and that it does sustain 

 more or less injury in its transportation from Russia to our ports, 

 is believed to be an unquestionable fact. 



At the instance of a gentleman from Pennsylvania, the Commis- 

 sioners, in the year ] 824, agreed to purchase two tons of American 

 water-rotted hemp, with a view of having it made into cordage of 

 various sizes, and tested on board of one of our national ships with 

 the best Russia ; under this agreement between 7 and 8 cwt. only 

 was delivered. This hemp was pronounced by competent judges 

 to be fully equal to the best Russia then in market, and the growers 



