[ 126 3 
produce well. If we find they begin to fail a 
tie, by scattering over from 20 to 25 bushels of 
ashes to the acre, they appear to produce as well as 
ever; and some persons are in the habit of sprink¬ 
ling over from 10 to 20 bushels of ashes yearly, 
where the lands do not appear to fail, as they say 
they are amply compensated in the superior quality 
of the coat of the hempo 
Thus, Sir, I have endeavored to answer your 
several enquiries, and to give as perfect an account 
as I am able at present of the kind of land, and the 
mode of draining, clearing and sowing it ; and of cut¬ 
ting, rotting, clearing and putting up for market, the 
hemp raised in this part of the country. Yet, 1 don’t 
hesitate to say that, in my opinion, many improve¬ 
ments may be made, I have no doubt, that where 
a person has a conveniency for erecting a small 
dam, and could let the water in and out at his plea¬ 
sure, it would be to his advantage to water-rot his 
hemp, in preference to rotting it in the common 
mode. The water-rotted hemp is of a lighter color, 
and perhaps stronger; however, it is preferred by 
the rope-maker, perhaps because he can bury more 
tar in it in the manufacturing of it into cordage, 
which he sells by the pound at the same rate. But 
where a person has not the conveniency of erecting 
a dam, as above described, the extra, labotir it would 
take to water-rot it, would make the common mode 
the preferable, while labor remains as high as it 
now is. I am also of opinian, that a great saving 
