158 farmers' and mechanics' journal. 



ACmCULTURE. 



HEMP. 



[Continued from page 143.] 

 In our last, was published the experiments of the Navy Commis- 

 sioners, which prove that American water-rotted Hemp is prefera- 

 ble to the Russian. This fact being established, it becomes an 

 additional incentive to cultivating it among ourselves. It would 

 be the height of folly to purchase that of a foreign nation, which 

 we can produce, not only as easily and plentifully, but better in 

 quality than they can. The following is the method of raising the 

 article in question, in Russia, transmitted by the Hon. J. Q. Adams, 

 Minister to St. Petersburg, March, 1810 : 



In Russia, when the season is mild, the hemp seed is sown about 

 the 1st June, old style. The richer the soil of the land employed 

 for it, the better. A chetwirt of seed, (100 chetwirts are equal to 

 73 quarters, Winchester measure,) is sown on a piece of land of 

 80 fathoms (English feet) long, and 60 fathoms broad. 



The land is first ploughed and harrowed, and, about 200 single 

 horse loads of dung being spread upon it, it is left for six days, when 

 it is again ploughed, and the seed sown and harrowed the same day. 

 In about four months the seed becomes ripe, and the hemp is then 

 pulled up with the roots ; if it be allowed to remain too long in 

 the ground, it is apt to become harsh. It is bound into heads or 

 bunches of four handfuls each ; these are hung upon sticks placed 

 horizontally, ihus, x -0-0-0-0-0-0- X, and allowed to remain so 

 for two days. It is then made into cut or thrashed hemp, as may 

 be agreeable. The cut hemp is made by chopping off the heads 

 containing the seed. These are put into the kiln, and, after re- 

 maining there for eighteen hours, the seed is beaten out. 



If thrashed hemp is to be made, the heads or tops must not be cut 

 off, but the bunches of hemp, placed entire in the kiln ; and, if the 

 weather be warm, it will be sufficiently dry in three days, when the 

 seed must be thrashed out of the heads. In either case, three days 

 after the seed is separated from it, the hemp must be put to steep 

 or rot, either in a stream or a pond, and that the hemp may be en- 

 tirely immersed, it is pat under wooden frames 



upon which stones are placed, or, where they are not to be had, 

 earth is substituted, after the frames are covered with planks. 



The clearer and purer the water, the better will be the color of 

 the hemp. Where the water is warm, three weeks' steeping will 

 be sufficient, but, if cold, as in rivers, springs, &c. five weeks or 

 longer may be necessary. At the expiration of this period, a head 

 of the hemp is taken out and dried ; if, on beating and cleaning it, 

 the husk comes off', the hemp may then be taken out of the water, 

 ^)ut if the husk still adheres to it, it must be allowed to remain 



