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


half formed seed, &C., will be left on tie ground
). The hemp riots or is watered quicker and
more regularly than it does on grass land.
a. II spread on hemp ground you are sure to
guard against stock running there, and HE ground
is consequently keptin good condition for another
crop. Besides, the ground is benefited by being
covered with the hemp while rong.
8. II spreading on meadow ground, much Of
the grass will be injured by burning the hemp
shives, aud il the hemp is not sufficiently wa.
tered before the grass springs up among it, it will
not obtain good rot and may be seriously in.
ured.
The best time for spreading hemp is in the
month OF December. 1t then receives what is
called "a winter rot, and makes the lint of the
hemp light color, and its quality better than il
spread out early. But where farmer has large
crop, it is desirable to have part of his hemp
ready to take up late in December, so that he
may commence breaking in January. To ac-
complish this ohi"ct, part of his crop may be
spread about tho middle of October. 1t would
not be pruden, to spread earlier as hemp will not
obtain good rot if spread out when tho weather
is warm
The experienced hemp grower is at no loss to
tell when hemp is sufficiently watered. A trial
of portion Of it on the break will be the best
test for those who have not had much experience.
When sufficiently watered the stalks Of the
hemp lose that hard sticky appearance or feel
which they retain till the process is completed
The lint also begins to separate from the stalk,
and the fibres will show themselves somewhat
like the strings Of fddle-bow attached to the
stalk at two distinct points, and separate in the
middle This is sure indication that The hemp
has good rot.
The practice Of waerrotting has been gene.
rally abandoned. The scarcity Of water and un.
wholsomcness of the process have conduced, not
a little TO this result. Besides, The crcum
stance OF the manufacturer giving no more for
water than dew-rotted hemp, has discouraged all
attempts to water.rot, to any considerable extent
For rigging Of ships, watcr-rotted hemp is un
doubtecy the best, but for bale rope and bagging,
dCw-rotted answers equally well, and, therefore,
/! cannot be expected that the manufactures OF
these articles should give an additional price for
the former.
Some have advised that hemp, after it has been
sufficiently water-roted, should be put under
cover. This is certainly an error. II, after hemp
is sufficiently wateed, it is put in large masses,
it goes through sweating process, which tough.
ems it, and lenders it much more difficult 10
break. Besides !. would cost much labor 10 haul
It from the field, in which i! was spread, put it
under shelter. and again remove il some dis.
lance from the shelter to break it out. In these
different landings, the hemp would be good
deal tangled, and much loss OF lint would resul,
lhereirom. The erection Of suitable buildings
for the purpose would, moreover, be attended with
considerable expense. All this extra labor and
expense is wholly unnecessary. When hemp is
fit to be taken up, it should be Immediately put
=. Il ,;,l. |. II
it is dry the shocks should be Immediately tied,
with hemp band, by drawing The tops as close
together as possible, in order TO prevent the rain
from wettng the inside. If carefully put up. and
tied, they will turn rain completely. Each shock
should be large enough to produce fifty or sixty
pounds Of lint. If the hemp be considerably
damp, when taken up, the shocks should be uni
ted at the tops until they have time to dry. III
the shocks are not well put up, they are liable to
blow down by strong wind. To guard against
this, it is desirable, when commencing shock,
10 tie band around the first armfu or two that
may be set up, and then raise up the parcel, so
tied, and beat it well against the ground, SO as TO
make it stand firmly, in perpendicular direction.
The balance Of the shock should now be set reg
u!arly around the part as herein directed III
hemp be carefully shocked, it will receive little
or no injury till the weather becomes warm. In
the meantime it should be broke out as rapidly
as possible. If the operation be completed by
the middle of April, no material loss will be sus.
tanned. II delayed to later period, more or less
loss will be the consequence. Good frosty wealth
er is much the best for hemp breaking. In that
state OF the weather, if the hemp is good, first.
rate hands on the common hemp breaks, will
clean two hundred pounds per day, upon an e..
erage. Two OF my best hands during the present
season, for every day they broke, favorable, and
unfavorable, averaged 1856 pounds. Two others,
who are young men, and not full hands, averaged
l44 pounds. The ordinary task for hands is 100
pounds. Over work lie paid for at the usual price
Of breaking.
| Many efforts have been made to clean hemp
by machinery, but hitherto without success. At
| least no method has yet been discovered, that an
swerS as well as the common hand break. This
is so commonly in use as 10 render its description
unnecessary. good description is given Of it
in the farmers Guide, page 223, except that the
under Stats, in the hinder part Of the break, in.
stead OF SIX inches apart, should be from sixteen
10 eighteen inches. Those in the upper Jaw
should, of course, correspond with those in the
lower one, that is, should be so placed as 10 play
exactly in the centre OF the lower stats.
| ] have now gone through with the process OF
the hemp culture, from the rearing OF the seed to
the final completion Of the operation, by prepar.
ing the lint for market. 1t has been my endeav
or to give the practical results Of my own expe.
rience, aiming at utility rather than ornament OIL
style.
A few remarks upon the soils, suitable for the
hemp culture, will close this essay. 1t cannot
be cultivated to advantage on the white oak land.
nI nDtnrku hnI 10 ,uaIl oda to .;,bl 10.