Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-10-28
"a dollars per annuin.]

aulined frequently. To ascertain when tho
hemp is sufficiently rotted, if after crushing.
seven or eight stalks with your hands and
holding them eighteen inches or two feet
from each other, the herd or stalk viii shake
out and SEPARATE easily from the bark leav-
ing clean and entire, the process Of rotting
IS completed. Your own observation and
attention will soon make you acquainted with
this part of the business, and better than can
be effected by any written instruction There
is no risk for by submitting it to the break
(until you become skilful enough to Judge
without that trouble) you can easily provide
against taking up your hemp too soon, and
the frequent repetition of rhe same experi.
ment will secure YOU from the danger OF its
being over done. The precise point 70 Gin,
at, is to take up the hemp at the nomens,
when the bark or lint will separate from the.
stalk without being rolled or yeakened.--
The bark or lint of hemp is connected with
the stalk by 4 substance uhich must bs. eli
ther rotted or dissolved before they will Sc
parate; produce the separation aid the
works. accomplished. l have been preven-
ted, frequently, by the weather for eieht or
ten days in the month of March from taxing
up hemp that was sufficiently rotted, and have
never experienced any Inconvenience FROM
It in cool or even cold weather il is not ca
silly injured by exposure. When YOUR hemp
IS sufficiently rotted take it up, and put it in
stacks Of 100 VT. each, tying them at the
| top with hemp T. should DC perfectly dry
| when stacked. Tlie business of the farm
should be so arranged that you may COM
| mence breaking as soon as the hemp Is rea-
| dy for it is subject TO lass and injury pro-
! pOrtionate to the time you delay il. Nv
hemp when broken, is baked in a box made
like cidcrspress, across tine bottom four.
/ ropes are laid to tie the hemp when pressed
| into the box with common prize
5th Query. What are the kinds of ma
chimes for breaking, scutching or swinging
hemp, and where are they mades
| Answer. We use nothing but break SIM
liar to fax break, but larger. Nv breaks
are six feet long, So inches wide at ono end of
the break and twelve at the other end
with four swords in the frame and three in
the upper part of the break.-yYith this in,
strument, (Which any person may make who
can make an helve to hce or an axe) our
hemp is broken and cleaned. With one of
these man viii break, clean and prepare
| for market in one day from 80 To I50lbs ac-
cordingly as the order of the hemp, its auali-
! ty, and the state of the weather may be more
| or less favorable.
9th Query. What quantity of hemp have
! you made to the acre?
! ANswEE. Various quantities When com
menced the culture, was not only uncertain
what parts but, whether any part of my land
| would bring hemp in SONG instances have
| been sadly disappointed, & in Others agreeablv
surprised. Ay average crop from all the land
| have sown has not been satisfactoryi a good
| deal oft tulFa for hemp many acres indeed
were not worth pulling other fields on inc COM
| trary yielded more than ever expected from
| them. viii give you statement Of the crops Of
! one Of my farms for three succeeding Ycars.-The
| land has not been surveyed, but am convinced
| it does net exceed eighteen acres. From this
| nd L 10 IN tb.y aot. ~ 20,
| 5000 VT. & in the year 1910, 1900 VT. The dee
fciency Of the crop of last year, ascribe 20 the
| extraordinary drought of the last spring-Ths
result of this experiment was the more satisfac-
tory, as it enabled me to make an accurate COM
psrison between the produce hemp and tobac-
| co on the same land
In the year 1907 had all the land tand about
thirty thousand hills more) in tobacco that af-
| forwards sowed in hemp.-That part of the land
! which was sown with hemp had brought fina
crop of tobacco, and ylt made more lbs. OF hemp
from II alone, than of tobacco with the product
ofthe additional thirty thousand bills included)
| with less labor, & less interference With the wheat
! and corn crops. This experiment l deem very
! satisfactory and conclusive IN favor of hemp.
On another farm made last year, twelve thou
sand weight of hemp from about 25 acres, oF
which, five acres at least, were not worth pulling,
and that have tins ycari either thrown cut OF die
culture or pl-nuTed highly.
9TH Query. What IS the best mode Of steep
ing or watering, and whether you have tried the
French process by hot water aud soap
Answer This question have purpOsely, de-
lay ed answering, because 1t is ono Of great diff
Guilty, and ny own experiments do not SRord me
very salts factory means OF solving Il. In 1903,
when made ny first crop Of hemp was entire
ly ignorant of every mode Of managing it |
thought it safer to adopt the method that had
been practiced, in the small way IN this part Of
the country, where hemp had long been raised,
by some people, for making rope for the use Of
their plantations, and to fsuIiliaise my people 70
tie culture before yentured on any innovation.
The inducements TO water rottinE are strong
tue hemp IS said TO be better and Of course com.
| maads a better price. therefore felt consider.
able anxiety on this subject. The French pro.
! cess appeared 90 me, imprRctcable a largo
! scale for the bulk of hemp when good from ~
or 80 acres of land Is immense. The streams
convenient 20 me, were Objectionable liable ~
7 be suddenly raised 50 IS 90 endanger the hemp,
By carrying il of, TO inidre il by mskns- de-
2 posts of mud I therefore avaicd myself Of !
= wide and decp ditch at the foot Of bin which
I | enlarged. and where had perfect command OF
, water, being anie To let of or on at pleasure.
, was pleased with the situ1ton aud made II large
enough 20 hold as much in The stalk rs would
!. yield about S00or 1000 VI. OF clean hemp In
= this place have tried water rotirg two years
the result has uo, been very satisfactory the la.
Dor Of putting IN, taxing out, drying and secur
4 - Il rf.r,l