Or Hemp. 



173 



and frequently' obtains a height of 6, sometimes 7 feet. It is said, 

 however, that in Italy, and the warm Oriental climates, to attain 

 sometimes a height equal to 15 or 18 feet, without any diminu- 

 tion of the equal texture and fineness of its fibre. The time for 

 sowing hemp should never be earlier than the 15th of April. 

 This, however, will greatly depend upon the character of the sea- 

 son, and general climate of the place where it is intended to sow 

 hemp. Many persons prefer the first week in May. The latter, 

 according to my own experience, I have always found the best 

 suited ; as hemp is a most unprofitable crop, unless it is grown on 

 such a rich soil as will force it rapidly forward. It is better, 

 therefore, to wait a short time for more genial weather than to run 

 the risk of the crop being destroyed by a spring frost ; as hemp, 

 from its eastern origin, is peculiarly obnoxious to the destructive 

 effects of frost while in its earlier stages of growth. 



The quantity of seed to be sown per acre must, according to 

 circumstances, be regulated from 2 to 2^ bushels per acre. If, 

 however, a very fine fibre is desired, suitable for manufacturing a 

 coarse species of cloth similar to those manufactured from coarse 

 flax, 3 bushels may be sown with advantage. On very rich soils, 

 however, this should never be attempted, and the larger quantity 

 can only be sown profitably on soil of second rate, but at the same 

 time, of good quality. At the time the hemp is coming up, care 

 must be taken to scare away small birds, otherwise they will make 

 tremendous havoc with the cultivator's future prospects. This 

 care will also have to be borne in mind at the time of harvest, if 

 the female plant is allowed to stand for seed. There are some 

 very rich pasture lands, which on first breaking up will yield an 

 excellent crop of hemp without any manure ; the generality will, 

 however, require a dressing of 10 tons of well-rotten farm-yard 

 dung per acre. If the cultivation of hemp is carried on with land 

 that has been previously broken up, the general practice has been 

 with the cultivators of that article to plough up the stubbles in 

 autumn, and carry on to the land manure, 20 tons at least, during 

 the winter ; a practice, in my opinion, reprehensible, whether for 

 hemp or any other crop. I have made small comparative trials 

 between this method and carting well-rotten manure on to the 

 land, ploughing and harrowing it in early in April, and I have 

 found the advantages greatly preponderate in favour of the latter 

 method, both in economy of manure and amount of crop. It must, 

 however, always be borne in mind that the manure carted on in 

 spring should be well rotted, as hemp, being a quick-growing plant, 

 requires its nourishment (manure) to be well prepared, the time 

 of occupying the land not being sufficient to permit its perfect but 

 slow decomposition. Night-soil exceeds all other manures in pro- 

 moting the luxuriant growth of hemp ; and if applied in abundance 



