Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1842-06-03

fitting The soil torihe seed. The ground in,en-
ded torhemp should be plowed deep IN the
tall, Or very early in the spring, that it may
have the benefit Of the frosts in pnlverizing
the soil; aud no animals should be allowed 10
go upon it. as all pressure or conpactness is
injurious. When the time for sowing arrives
it must be again plowed and narrowed; and
thes operations, particularly the latter, must be
repeated or continued until the surface is per-
fec'ly fine and level. The seed mus, now be
sown and narrowed both ways, and then if
relied, the equal termination Of the seeds will
be greatly advanced, and the surface left smooth
and even for the better action Of the hemp era
del. In late sowings, or when the ground is
destitute OF the moisture necessary for germi-
nation, 1t will be safer 10 plow in the seed
with shallow furrow, or with shovel plows.
This depth Of covering will insure their COM
ing up, unless the ground is very dry in which
case, II will be best to wait for rain before SOW
ing. In Kentucky, the usual rate Of seed per
acre Is one bnshe and peck; but where the
ground is in first rate condition, and the proper
degree Of moisture to insure termination, Judge
Beatty thinks rem his experience that one bu.
shell aud one-e;ghth Of seed will be sufficient.
This is much less than has been generally used
districts oi Europe. From two to three BUSH
lis of seed is the quantity most commonly pre-
Tered; but there is no question, that where
The seed and the soil are both Of the right
kind, the quantity proposed by Judge Beatty
would furnish as many plants as could grow
on an acre. Experience showns that richly
MANFRED lands do not produce as good hemp
as those in which the manure has become full
ly decomposed and incorporated. Newly ma
nured lands give coarse stock and lint, which
thoroughly prepared soils do not. Old mead
ows turned over in the fall, that the sod may
bo partially decomposed or pastures that have
been nsed for sheep walks, are found 10 be ex-
celent for hemp, the vegetable and animal
matter in such soils being in the proper condl-
tion TO ensure its action on the plants.
SUCCESSION OF HEMP Crops. --Hemp is one
Of the few plants which will admit of sowing
for a number Of years on the same soil or field.
This is important, as it enables the grrwer to
keep his hemp fields much more easily clean,
and in good order, than if rotation was fol-
lowed, or new fields annually taken for that
purpose. There is another advantage. AS
the field when the hemp is taken Oft is desil'
tu,e of all vegetation, there is no excuse for al
lowing animals TO run in these fields, and con-
sequently they are more easily kept light and
mellow. Experience proves that hemp IS
crop that deteriora,es the soil in but slight
degree if a, all. The Farmers Guide states
on good authority, that thirteen or fourteen sue.
ana ina, ire las, was the BEST aud the san same held
ty ajds-"I have no doubt OF tie correctness
of this statement, because it conforms to my
own experience. A field containing twelve and
a half acres, upon which nine or ten successive
crops have been grown. produced last season
$500 pounds Of hemp, equal TO 769 pounds per
acre. This was quite as good yield, taking
into consideration the unfavorablenss Of the
season, as l have ever had from the same
ground" 1t is evident, however, that unless
hemp soils are originally exceeding rich in nn-
tftive matter, or this matter is renewed by the
overlooking Of streams, as is on some bottom
lands, exhaustion and consequent failure OF
the crop must eventually take place. To pre-
vent this, some hemp growers apply, every Sc
cond year, dressing Of compost manure 10
their hemp lands.
TIME OF SowING.-According to Low, and
the Russian practice, hemp should be sown
about tie last Of April or the first OF May.
Judge Beatty says-''it may be sowed at any
time between the 10Th Of April and last Of May
when the ground is in proper state for SOW
general rule, early sown hemp produces the
bes, crop the plant getting more Of its growth,
and greater maturity, before the hot dry wealth
or If onr summer commences. Frosis do not
often destroy il, tougl, a succession OF frosty
cold NIGHTS seriously retards its growth and
iniures the crop. This it does by making the
niant shorter than it would be under favorable
circumstances, and thus reduces the weight.
The latest sown hemp will be the lightest, and
afford the least profit, although it will mature
in the middle states if sown as late as the 10Th
or middle Of June. Where considerable guam
titles Of hemp are grown, it is found advanta-
oeous 10 have the several fields come to matu-
ri,y in succession, as this difference in ripen-
inc gives more time for cutting and securing
the crop.
TINE FOR CurrlNc.-According to Judge b.
"the time for cn,ting or pulling hemp is lndi-
Gated by the leaves Of the male hemp becom-
ING yellow, and most Of them falling OFT. Up
on a close examination about this period, 1t
will be found that some Of the blossom stalks
will have entirely shed their leaves, ano begin
10 turn of dark color, having lost their yell
low hue. When this discovery is made, no
time should be lost in cutting or pulling the
hemp. Blu, it may stand week longer with
ont any material injury, except that me D'os
som hemp will no, take so good rot ano :, VIII
he somewhat worse to break" Thus, 10 Ken
lucky, and we believe generally in this coun-
try, the blossomng and the seed-bear'ng plants
or the males and females as they are some
times termed, are all gathered at the same
time. A different practice prevails IN the he'nP
countries of Europe. There. the male or dos
som plants are pulled as soon as the leaves
kand stalk are yellow and the flowers taded'
while the females OF seed bearing plants are
allowed to stand s1-,e five weeks longer: mus
making two hemp harvests. The two KINDS
are kept separate. and the first pulled IS usn-
alIu .hu & rs1 rai1ed and fitted for use. Wheth-