The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1842-11-04
Treatise on ihc CuIiurc Of Kemp and Water
ksotiin..
WASHINGTON CRY, 1912.
Editor of The NiSsouriqn

ted to the farmers Of Missouri and the adj
joining States: The land best adapted
to the culture of hemp is that which has
been ,imbered with black walnut, buck
eve. blackberry, and a reasonable proper
ton of white oak; or rich bottom lands
answer well. The land should be plough
cd deep. and well narrowed before seed
inc. If sod land, it should be ploughed
in the fall to receive the winter frosis
and wien time for seeding, (Which is from
the middle of April to the 10th of May
it should betell ploughed, narrowed, lev
ellcd and smoothed. The seed should be
sown broadcast, one bushel and peck
to the acre. When the blossoms begin
to fall which is from the middle of July
to the first of August, it should then be
cut. Hemp left standing too long, Injuries
the staple, and produces harshneSs and
weakness.
The instrument for cutting is similar
to the point of an ordinary scythe it is
about two feet long from the point, with
socket standing at right angles with the
face of tic blade, and angling to the edge
10 prevent the person when cutting from
bending too much /; as it is necessary for
him to stand upright as possible to keep
the hemp from tangling. The hemp
should he cut as close to the ground as
possible. Pulling hemp is not recommen-
dabe it Injuries the soil as well as the
quality of the hemp-more particularly
that of water-rotted.- When cutting, all
the large hemp should be laid by itself;
and alter days sun on it, should be
bound up into bundles, with two bands
on them about the size of Or 8 inches
through in the butts When too large,
they are awkward to handle, W hich wastes
the hemp. If your pools are prepared,
commence filling them, and be particular
in selecting the size of hemp, placing the
large size in pool by itself, as the large
uudergoes more rapid solution or macer-
alton when immersed. The hemp that
is after your pools are filled, Immediately
stack in the field or near your pool to
preventii from receiving the dews or rains
which inure it for watcr-rotling. 1t loses
in weight and strength and discolors it.
which Injuries its reputation as water-Fot-
ted hemp. The hemp placed in the pools
should be carefully packed down, with
narrow plank laid on the points and butts.
and with rock or timber 10 weigh it down !;
rock is preferable.
No hemp less than six feet should be
water-rottcd. Sizes under this should be
dew-roted. 1t depends upon the tenn
peraturc Of the weather in what length OF
time it produces maceration. In the month
Of August it takes four or days ; Sep
tcmber 6 to s; October 10 TO IL; De-
cembcr 3 or weeks. After the 4ih or 9Th
day in August and September, the 9Th OF
9Th day in October and November and
the Sd week in December or less time. il
should be carefully examined, to ascertain
when it has fully come to its solution
You will discover thst the stalk has {
rolghness on its surface previous 10 its be.
ing placed in the pools.-When the so,
luton has arrived at its extent, by drawing
few stalks ont Of the bundles in the
centre, promiscuousIy, and passing your
hand along the stock, You will find the
roughncss has left it, and tina! il is smooit
to the touch. The hemp is then finish
ed; take it ont Immediately; spread i
on the ground, and when perfectly dry
on one side, turn il for the other--say lo
two or three times, until you find tina
the pith has hardened. If it should re
ceivc several rains, it does not injurc, pro
vided you attend to turning it, The rains
wash the gum which lies on the surface
ofthe lint, and when applied to the bark
It produces clearer staple, cleans easier
and makes less tow.
There is also another mode, when I'll
stalk will break Off short, and free itsel
\ of the lint; but the former is the most Gel
tain. The hemp as i, is dried should b
thrown into shocks or ricks well secure
from the weather penetrating their centres
If the weather penetrates the centre,
will injure the staple by reducing il
strength. 1t should not be applied to tn
break too often, nor the breakers suifere
to practice the habit they have of breal
ing dew-rotted hemp, by beating it owe
the break to relieve it of the heads.
should be thrown up loosely into the a
mosphere let the air pass through
which will relieve it of the herds, ar
produce handsome clear staple, and
a gain to the farmer at least II or l3 ID
to the 100 lbs, and will avoid producer