Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1811-04-12

der, early in Nav, that the first favoura.
bic season that offers, for sowing the seed
may be embraced. This is previous to a
warm rain, or as soon after, as the ground
viii admit. When this is in 6t order and
weather warm, as few seeds vegetate quick.
er, 1t will appear in 70 or 60 hours, which
not only preserves it from the birds, but
by its spreading leaf shelters the soil from
the scorching sun. Should fit season for
sowing be protracted il becomes necessa-
ry, by stirring, to keep the weeds under
and the soilin order. The quantity of seed
tor an acre, when intended for cordage, is
from one bushel to six pecks, according to
the quality of the soil the richest requir-
ing the most seed, which prevents the
hemp from growing too high. But when
hemp is intended for domestic purposes
two bushels or even little more is requi.
site, which renders the fibre fine, and lit.
tie inferior to our country fax.
Hemp is male and female In different
plants. The Farina or dust, emitted from
the flowers of the male plant, is necessary
to impregnate the female Aowers, to rem
der the seed productive. The proper sea.
son tor pulling, or what is far preferable,
cutting the hemp, is from the beginning to
the end of August This period is stuff :
ciently ascertained, from the appearance
OF tue male plants, as when nearly fit to cut.
the blossom becomes ola pale yellow col.
our, and emits, upon the least touch or
motion, dust which in the morning, ap-
pears like a fog rising from the hemp, and
when this blossom and the upper leaves of
the male begin to fall the hemp is Fit to cut
which should be done close to the ground
by hook formed for the purpose, of the
best steel, and as broad as sickel, but not
so crooked, aud the edge smooth, with a
set of about an inch just where the shank
is formed that runs into the handle, which
sets the edge lower, and prevents the ne
cessity of STOPPING too much 10 cutting the
hemp. In gathering, it is supported by
the lett arm and knee, and spread regular
ly on the ground, as is done with fax. In
about six or eight days, if the weather
prove dry, 1t is bound up in bundles, arr
is carefully preserved from the weather,
either IN sheds or stacks, until about the
middle of December then carefully
spread out on grass land. The time for
rolling will depend on the weather. Ia an
open and mild season it will be sooner ef-
tected, and should be examined towards
the middle or end of February. When
sufficiently rotted, it should be set up in
stacks in the field and when perfectly dry
the hemp brake should be brought, and as
one stack is broke it should be carried to
another; this brake is generally about four
feet and an half long the pieces in front
being about four inches apart, and an inch
behind: AS the hemp passes through this
brake it should be carried bone, where it
must pass through fax brake when, at.
ter the shelves are cleared off, it is rolled
or twisted up in handsfull, turning in the
loose ends, and bound up strongly in two
or three places into bundles of fifty or six
ty pounds; then it is fit for market.
A top dressing of ashes or plaster will
prove of considerable advantage to the
crop.
The best and most convenient mode of
raising seed is to drop few grains in hills
about five or six feet apart, which may be
done in hills along with corn in planting
They should afterwards be thinned, leav.
ing three or four in a hill: and when the
male plants begin to decay, they should be
cut out
Pipe Creek, (Maryland,) l4th March, 1911