386 Hemp Cultivation in Europe. 



In Europe the culture is confined chiefly to France, Italy, 

 Germany, Hungary, and central and southern Russia, but 

 it also grows in Holland and Belgium, and it has been 

 cultivated in parts of Great Britain and in Sweden. In Italy 

 its growth is largely confined at the present time to the 

 provinces of Bologna and Ferrara ; in France, to the 

 province of Brittany ; while the chief hemp-producing 

 districts of Russia are Orel, Kursk, and Smolensk, and the 

 Polish provinces. The plains of Hungary are also said to 

 be peculiarly adapted to the cultivation of hemp. 



Five varieties of hemp are cultivated in Europe, viz., the 

 common hemp, which is grown largely in France and in 

 Europe generally (excepting Italy), attaining a height of 5 ft. 

 to 6 ft. ; Bologna hemp, known in France as Piedmontese 

 hemp, or "great hemp," an Italian variety, averaging 12 ft. 

 in height; Chinese hemp, known in Europe since 1846; 

 the Caniiapa piccola, or small hemp of Italy, which has a 

 reddish stalk, and is found in the valley of the Arno and 

 around Tuscany ; and the Arabian hemp, known as Takroii^si, 

 a short species cultivated for its resinous principle, from 

 which hasheesh is derived. 



French hemp and Italian hemp are somewhat similar in 

 colour — a creamy yellow, and they are soft and fine in 

 quality. The Russian and American, hemps are for the 

 most part dark in colour, and are said to be not so fine in 

 quality. 



The principal departments of France where hemp is culti- 

 vated are Maine-et-Loire, Sarthe, Morbihan, Isere, and Puy- 

 de-Dome. The two varieties cultivated are the common 

 hemp of the country and the Italian hemp, the seed of which 

 is obtained from Piedmont ; the chief difference consistirxg in 

 the length of the stalk of the latter variety, its slower develop- 

 ment, and its coa^rser quality, which makes it better adapted 

 for cordage. Climate has much influence on the successful 

 cultivation of this plant, as the best length of stalk, and con- 

 sequently the greatest yield of fibre, are obtainfd in those 

 situations where the climate is mild and the atmosphere 

 humid. 



In the cultivation of hemp in France a rotation of crops 



