174 



On Hemp. 



will make* hemp grow on any porous soil, provided it is sufficiently 

 retentive of moisture during the heats of summer. 



In consequence of the peculiar nature of hemp, differing as it 

 does from all our other ordinarily cultivated plants in having the 

 male and female flowers on separate plants, the harvesting of 

 hemp has some peculiarities. In taking the hemp crop, two 

 methods are followed, according as the object in view be either 

 to obtain a fine fibre adapted to the manufacture of cloth, at the 

 sacrifice of the seed ; or the fibre and seed conjointly. In the 

 former case, a crop of turnips or rape, to be eaten by sheep, may 

 be obtained after gathering the hemp. 



When the crop is grown entirely for the fibre, it is pulled while 

 in flower, and no distinction made between the male and female 

 hemp plants ; but it is generally grown on account of both fibre 

 and seed, in which case the usual practice is to pull the male 

 plants as soon as the shedding of their pollen has effected the 

 fecundation of the female. The pulling is effected in the follow- 

 ing manner : the pullers walk in the furrows, between the ridges, 

 and reach across to the crown of the ridge, gathering a stalk or 

 two at a time. At this time the male stalks are easily known by 

 their yellowish colour and faded flowers. In this operation the 

 treading down of the female plants must be carefully avoided. 

 The pulling of the female plants commences when the seed is ripe, 

 which is known by the colour of the capsules turning to a brownish 

 or greyish hue, and also by the fading leaves. I had proceeded 

 thus far on this subject when I received a communication from a 

 person to whom I had written for additional information on the 

 subject, and from whom I received the following valuable letter. 

 I may mention that all my experiments were conducted under 

 the direction of the person to whom I now allude, who received a 

 medal for his excellent culture and subsequent management of the 

 fibre, at the period (during the late war) when a considerable 

 quantity of hemp was grown, and consequently considerable com- 

 petition existed. I may mention that he is a native of Lincoln- 

 shire, and that his remarks apply principally as regards culture to 

 the soil and climate of that county. His remarks about the pre- 

 paration of the fibre are of peculiar value, as I would with safety 

 challenge his management and manual dexterity in this respect 

 against all England as regards hemp and flax — 1 might perhaps 

 challenge with safety the world. I give his communication entire, 

 as I deem it too valuable to be mutilated, and it would be difficult 

 to select and re-arrange the matter without in some degree destroy- 

 ing a portion of its value. He informs me in a subsequent letter 

 that it was a common practice during the war to give with pupils 

 150/. to 200/. to a known good hemp farmer as a fee for teaching 

 the mode. His experience — which, as he justly remarks, has cost 



