INTRODUCTION. 



Of the various productions of nature, which are alike conducive to the 

 comforts, to the opulence, to the security, and to the independent exis- 

 tence of maritime nations, there are few, perhaps, at the present crisis, 

 of greater moment, or which more imperiously demand our attention, 

 than those vegetable productions, the culture and general management of 

 which form the subject of the following pages. 



The profound author of the <c Wealth of Nations " has remarked, 

 that the cc capital employed- in agriculture not only puts in motion a 

 ** greater quantity of productive labour than any equal capital employed 

 " in manufactures, but also, in proportion to the quantity of productive 

 " labour which it employs, it adds a much greater value to the annual 

 {C produce of the land and labour of the country, while it encreases the 

 " real wealth and revenue of its inhabitants." Vol. II. p. 53, 8vo. edit. 

 This observation, though justly applicable to agriculture in general, ac- 

 quires additional force from the growing importance of the particular 

 branch, which it is attempted to elucidate in the following work ; from 

 the perusal of which the Editor ventures to detain the reader for a short 

 time, by requesting his attention to a few considerations, relative to the 

 growth of Hemp, as well as to the manner in which we have hitherto been 



b supplied* 



