, 1842-04-23

TACT that it is stated the annual con-
sumption of hemp in our navy a
mounts to nearly two thousand tons;
besides which, the demand for the
rest Of our shipping is not less than
about eleven thousand tons more;
making an aggregate of nearly thir-
teen thousand tons-the price OF
which is put at from S22o, and by
some even as high as $3.50 per ton,
together with other and inferior quail
ties, which are used 10 supply the de-
fciency of the better article. Our
hemp, it is further stated. on high au-
thority, when properly water-rotted,
proves, by actual EXPERIMENT., TO Be-
~one-fourth stronger than Russia hemp
to take five feet more run, and TO spin
twelve pounds more to the four hun
bred pounds. When so much is felt
and said on the increase Of our navy
p%rospectively, it is an object worthy
of attention to secure, if possible. the
production of hemp in our own coun-
try, adequate to all our Demands
The introduction, too, Of gunny bags.
and Of Scotch and Russia bagglng,
and iron hoops for cotton, renders this
direction Of the hemp product more
necessary and important. 1t is no.
ped that some process of water-rot-
ting. which will prove at once both
cheap and satisfactory. may yet be
discovered"
We subioin a letter from Henry
. Clay, of Kentucky, TO MIR. Colman:
on the same subject:
LETTER FROM HENRY CLAY.
:, Washington, All March, 1912.
DEAR SR-My engagements Of
IF pubic nature mere are suoi 0n"'
connot answer one letter in 90 that
- receive, and | NEST reply very brief,
10 Yours as to the mode OF cultlva
ID ting Hemp. once wrote an essa
mr. en- the subject, Of which regret tn;
be | have no copy to send you. 1t WI
cs published in some agricultural period
n. cal published at Cincinnati.
m The best soil for hemp is a rc
II. vegetable mould, with 4 clay substr
tum. either fresh, or which has bee
d. long in pasture. Any stable or orc
70. nary manure is good, if 1t be necce
:; sary to use any, which depends upe
.sv ,he degree of the fertility OF the SO
-, Hemp exhausts very little, and
~, have known it cultivated for succe
sive years in the same field witho
;cb anv diminution Of the crop.
I;c. The ground should be prepared c
M actly as you would make the be
ia preparation for wheat. a bushel al
mi, 4 neck of seed. OF, if the land is u
70 commonly rich, a bushel and half,
ds the acre. should be sowed, broad ca
nc from The first to the Goth of May.
for All the plants, male and female, a
Der gathered, by pulling Or cutting clio
,,lf TO the ground bya cutting knife
tod sembling a reap hook, but shorter.
,ra. The plants intended to produce Sc
He are sowed by themselves n drill
and cultivated with the plough a
70 hoe, so as to keep them clean.
ore The Crop Hemp is pulled or c
nal flor there is not much difference |
tween the two methods, although
prefer cu,ting) about the Goth or q
.blv Of August; and the proper time is
the Dictated by the Hemp leaves tu'
If inc a little yellow, and the iarlna
+ Of Gaping when the stalks are ag''at'
,Hs When cut or pulled, the stalks
suffered to remain on the groun'
this few days until they are cured and
,ds. a rain falls on them SO much inc .
fer. as it will render the separation
:, 'u in the leaves from the stalk easier: ,
sO H. ter beingcured, the hemp is tied
sup with a hemp stalk in small bundI
-. convenient to handle, and sh0cl
It's .ho Gold. The best farmers, i
ass;. week or two afterwards stack tn