ON THE CULTURE OF HEMP* 183 



that which is a deep black mould, formed from the decomposition 

 of vegetable matter ; until the texture is apparent, its situation 

 should be low, with some small degree of moisture. This descrip- 

 tion of soil will produce hemp in greater abundance than any other, 

 and every State in the Union possesses more or less thereof: this 

 State, in particular, has a full share, together with the convenience 

 of market for the sale, and a plentifuiness of that description of 

 manure which would best answer to restore the land to its former 

 state. 



'' The land is prepared, by some, with three, by others with four 

 ploughings, after it is manured ; immediately after one crop is re- 

 moved, 'tis usual in England to plough and harrow : the same thing 

 is again gone through with early in the Spring, and, afterwards, 

 just before the seed is sown ; this makes its condition perfectly 

 Hiellow, and renders it free from all kinds of weeds ; in our coun- 

 try, if the ground be broken twice with the plough, and once har- 

 rowed, it seems to be considered sufficient ; and in Russia, less 

 pains still is taken, beside being more imperfectly done. 



" The seed for hemp, as for flax, should be weighty, and of a 

 bright color ; good soils will admit of three bushels to the acre ; 

 not less than two should be used where one and a half bushels are 

 now put in, as the hemp, the thicker it is sown, provided it is not 

 overdone, will be finer in its fibre, and, consequently, spins a finer 

 yarn, and lays much closer, besides that the twist will be more 

 easily accomplished by the working hand or the machine, and it 

 will be a much stronger yarn made from fine hemp than coarse, 

 both being of the same diameter. The seed is sown in the broad- 

 cast manner, as early as the climate will admit, and covered in 

 with the harrow. Drilling is sometimes resorted to in England, 

 under the impression that the early growth of the plant is promot- 

 ed ; but the broad-cast is preferred. The seed may be put in in 

 April, the frosts being over even earlier, as the plants are more 

 vigorous, and less affected by the different subsequent operations 

 they have to undergo. 



" There are few soils in this country that could not produce, or 

 be made to produce, hemp, and repeated crops may be obtained, 

 as advantageously to the ground, from the same piece of land, with 

 proper attention, and as little exhaustion as almost any other vege- 

 table production. It is asserted, that, in Suffolk, in England, it has 

 been grown for 70 years in succession, on the same spot of ground, 

 and, by continually manuring, the ground would be restored, and 

 it may be grown forever. 



" After it is sown, the management of the crop is attended 

 with very little trouble ; when it is properly ripe, it is pulled up 

 by the roots, the mould well shaken off, and laid up in what are 

 called bails. If the hemp be intended for a seed crop, it should be 

 perfectly ripe ; but if for manufacturers' use, it should be pulled 

 earlier, as the coloring matter is then more easily extracted, and 

 the hemp has less tow ; besides, that it is generally believed the 

 ftbre is stronger. The next process which the plants undergo, is 



