Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-05-22

G. M. CLAY,
GEO. w. JOHNSTON, of Shelby,
w. CLARKE,
WARRICK MILLER.
AN ESSAY ON THE CULTIVATION
OF HEMP.
The first thing to be done, by a person
who is about to engage in the culture of
hemp, is to rear seed for his future crop.
This is not only important, as regards
economy, but still more so for other rea-
sons. There is no seed so easily injured
and rendered unfit for sowing, as that upon
which we depend for producing hemp
crop. If the seed is perfectly sound, has
been well ripened, and not injured by
heating after it is housed, the hemp cutiva-
tor knows how much to sow to the acre, to
make it weld to the best advantage But
if the seed has been injured by heating. or
from any other cause is so defective that
only half or two thirds will come up, the
crop will be greatly injured. If too small
quantity of seed be sown, the stalks will
grow large and coarse; and besides produc-
ing less, the quality of the hemp will be
inferior If, to insure a sufficie degree of
thickness, you sow a double quantity of
seed to the acre, and all should come up,
there is not only loss of one half of the
seed, but the crop will be injured, in conse-
quence of the hemp being too much crow
ded.
1t is said by some farmers that you cam
not easily sow too much seed on the
ground, as it will thin itself sufficiently, and
only so much will grow as it will support :;
and that by sowing an over quantity of
seed, the danger of the hemp growing too
coarse will be obviatcd. This is certainly
true, but where a double quantity of seed
is sown; that portion of the hemp which
will not come to perfection will take from
the more thrifty plants part of the nour-
shment which they would otherwise have
received, up to the period when the under
ling hemp perishes, and consequently will
not attain as great height as it would 9TH
erwise have done. Besides, that portion of
the hemp which perishes, will be an OBJ
struction in cutting, spreading and breaking,
without furnishing anylnt. 1t may, there
| fore, be laid down as a correct principle,
in the culture of hemp, that only 50 much
seed should be sown per acre, as the soil
will bring to perfection, or as near that
quantity as practicable. But as it is i'm
possible to distribute the seed so as to give
to every foot of ground its due proportion,
it is more safe to sow rather an ouer than an
under quantity of seed.
The foregoing considerations, it is be.
leved will be sufficient to impress upon the
cutivators of hemp the Importance of
raising their own seed. They will thus
have perfect knowledge of its quality,
and will therefore know how to regulate
the quantity, to be sown per acre. They
will, moreover, be assured that it is free
| from other seeds, such as foxtail, &c.
The richest ground is the best adapted to
raising of hemp seed. And that which has
been highly MANFRED is better than newly
cleared land, even of the most fertile quail
| ity. Land which has been long in grass,
and pastured by cattle or sheep, is very
suitable for the purpose. To prepare
ground for hemp seed, it should be pulver-
lied by repeatedly ploughing: and if grass
land is intended to be used, should be
ploughed the preceding Fall, SO that the
ground may be not only more completely
pulverized, but that the danger of the hemp
being cut by worms may be avoided.
Timothy meadow, upon which sheep have
been long pastured, during the winter, is
finely adapted for hemp seed, but it should
be ploughed in the Fall, and, if not very
rich, should have dressing of manure.
The seed should be planted as we do
corn, either in hills or drills. / prefer the
former, because it admits of easier and
better cultivation, as the plough can be
used both ways. 1t is usual to plant five
feet apart, each way, and suffer four or five
stalks to stand in hill until the blossom
hemp is removed, and then reduce the num-
Der so as not to exceed two stalks in hill.
Thus there would be two seed plants for
each twenty-five square feet. 1t would be
a better practice to make the hills three
feet six inches apart, each way, and thin
the hemp to three stalks in hill, till the
blossom hemp appears, and at the proper
time cut out the blossom or male hemp; and,
if necessary, part of the seed hemp, so
as to reduce to one stalk in the hill. If
each hill should contain one stalk there
would be two seed stalks for each twenty
four and half square feet. This will give
a greater number of seed STALKS per acre
| than planting five feet each way, and leav-
ing two in a hill. According to this plan,
each seed plant will stand by itself, and,
having its appropriate space of ground, can
spread its branches without obstruction,
According to the other plan, two seed
plants, standing together, will obstruct
each other, in putting forth lateral branches
and can scarcely be expected TO produce
tr0iee as much seed as the single stalk.
The ground for hemp seed, having been
well prepared by at least two ploughings,
and a number of borrowings, sufficient TO